Our opponents insist that members’ dues money is being misused. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, since 2020 when the 623LivesMatter team took over we have grown the Local’s treasury by over 1.3 million dollars. That’s more than the previous administration did in 10 years.

Our opponents want you to think the Union leadership spends your money recklessly. Again, this is a lie. Not only has the Union passed routine audits, even the Independent Disciplinary Office (IDO) found the Union books to be clean and balanced.

The 623LivesMatter team believes in transparency and honesty. At every Union meeting the financial report is read and discussed. And any member is welcome to review the books at any time.

When the 623LivesMatter team first took office we inherited a building in bad shape. Bill Shanahan, former Prinicipal Officer, warned the Executive Board that he and others put of needed upgrades and renovations to the hall.

In 2020, after Zoom meeting deliberations with members, the executive board moved ahead with exploring renovations. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, these renovations could not be properly voted on until members met again in person. At the first in-person meeting, the renovation costs were resoundingly approved.

Our opponents have told members they are opposed to striking in 2023 (no matter what contract concessions UPS demands from the Union). They have also told members that the Union cannot strike. This is reckless and irresponsible.

Not only is our right to strike legally protected, our ability to exercise that right is what gives the Union its power. Nobody wants to strike but if UPS refuses to bargain fairly and insists on more concessions from their workers, we may have no choice.

Taking the strike option off the table before negotiations even begin is foolish. It’s like waving the white flag before the battle begins.

623livesMatter is prepared to do what is needed to win the very best contract from UPS. If that means taking the Company out to the street, then that’s what we are prepared to do.

Thats a good question. Our opponents have been putting out flyers attacking 623LivesMatter slate but they have been shy about announcing themselves. Here is who we know is running:

Bill Shanahan is the former Principal Officer of Local 623, he is running on the Teamsters United/Unity slate. He is the man who approved 22.4 jobs, and the rest of the concessions in the last contract. Bill was voted out last election because he failed to stand up for members against UPS bullying. Now he plans to run in the background to see if he can sneak back into the Union hall.

Stan Hendrickson Jr. is running for the top spot in the Union. He has never been to the Union hall for a meeting or social event. Stan has never represented members in a disciplinary hearing nor has he ever filed a grievance. Declaring his run for Union office is the most Union activity he has ever done in his 14 year history as a member.

Carl Robinson is a former shop-steward who is running for President of Local 623. Carl had to be removed from his shop-steward duties because of egregious violations of the shop-steward policy, and specifically his tendency to side with management against the membership. Carl is known for his close relationship to managers, he has even thanked management after Teamster members were fired.

Teamsters Local 623 entered negotiations with Greyhound Lines in the height of pandemic stay-at-home orders. The conditions couldn’t be worse for the Union.

Still we fought hard, organizing Greyhound members for pickets and rallies,. Our allies in City Council put pressure on the bus company and we succeeded in forcing back management’s disastrous proposals.

In that contract we won:

• A new article on safety gives members power to grieve unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

• Additional progressive steps for discipline to prevent immediate or unjustified discharge.

• New language protects Bargaining Unit work to prevent supervisors from working.

• New language empowers union stewards and ensure their requested presence at all meetings with management.

• New language to extend bereavement leave to a wider layer of family members.

• New language on scheduling ensures stable and predictable scheduling; new protocols to ensure that members are given adequate notice of opportunities for additional work.

• New article on black outs defines the limits of Black Out rules and provides senior employees with additional freedoms to use vacation and personal days

• And significant wage increases: a 24% wage increase over starting wages for Customer Service Agents and a 35% wage increase over starting wages for janitors.

The contract was ratified with a unanimous vote of the membership.