Copyright 2008-Teamsters Local 17. All Rights Reserved.
Affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Joint Council #3
Freight Division
The Freight Division of Teamsters Local 17 covers hundreds of members throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Our contracts cover the companies of Yellow Freight, Roadway Express and Arkansas Best Freight (ABF). The National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) is the principal agreement that represents our members at these locations.
Michael Ramos is the Business Agent for the Freight Division. The freight companies have locations in Aurora, Denver, Colorado Springs, Longmont and Fort Collins. Michael not only provides representation to members at all of these locations, but he is also responsible for attending grievance hearings, change of operations hearings and local steps meetings in order to resolve disputes.
Mike Simeone (Principal Officer) is a member of the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) Grievance Committee, J.W.A.C. P&D Grievance Committee Chairman, Chairman of the Western States Master Freight P&D and Office Negotiations, and on the National Master Freight Negotiations Committee. This gives Teamsters Local 17 one of the strongest voices on freight issues throughout the country.
You can reach Michael Simeone at the Local 17 union hall at (303) 433-6496 Ext. 13
You can reach Michael Ramos at the Local 17 union hall at (303) 433-6496 Ext. 22.
Email: MRamos@TeamstersLocal17.org
Latest Freight News
April 7, 2008
UPS FREIGHT WORKERS OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFY CONTRACT BY MORE THAN 89 PERCENT
The Teamsters added more than 9,900 new members with workers at UPS Freight overwhelmingly ratifying a contract by a 4,435 to 527 vote, which is more than 89 percent. The agreement will improve wages, benefits and working conditions, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced today.
The Teamsters kicked off this organizing campaign in 2006 when it organized UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) workers in Indianapolis and negotiated a contract with the company that was ratified by a 107-1 vote last October.
In January 2008, the Teamsters launched its nationwide campaign. Hoffa and Teamsters Package Division Director Ken Hall attributed the organizing success to the card-check agreement the Teamsters won from UPS in December 2007.
"The card check agreement gave the Teamsters the boost it needed to organize UPS Freight, and the workers responded overwhelmingly. This is the largest organizing victory in the freight industry in 25 years," Hoffa said. "We were amazed that at the 90-day mark of our national campaign, 9,900 workers had signed cards. This shows the workers' commitment in joining a union that will give them a strong voice in the workplace."
"We were committed to providing the best contract that we could for these workers and we have achieved that," Hall said. "We are proud to have them join our ranks and look forward to representing them. I want to congratulate the Locals and the workers on a job well done."
The contract expires on July 31, 2013. Among the contract's highlights:
- Wage increases totaling $4.35 per hour or nearly 11 cents a mile over the contract.
- An improved health care plan with lower employee premium costs with no increases in costs to employees over the life of the contract.
- Overtime pay for work exceeding 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
- UPS Freight employees lock in their current pension benefits.
- The cost of retiree health insurance for most retirees is reduced substantially with no increase in premium cost to employees over the life of the contract.
The Teamsters will continue to organize UPS Freight workers nationwide. A majority of UPS Freight workers in 33 states have submitted cards to become Teamsters: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Victories have come in numerous large cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis and Washington D.C.