The Steward March 6, 1998
Mr. Dan Varela
Business Agent
Teamsters Local #78
492 C Street
Hayward, California 94541
Dear Brother Varela:
I am seeking clarification of your letters of February 23 and March 3, 1998.
Your letter of 2-23-98 acknowledges that Mr. Naddy has agreed to return my employee pass and allow me access to the Oakland Hub. I am not aware of the details of the final resolution of the issue that you refer to in your letter of 3-3-98.
It is implied that I can only enter UPS property on union business. This is in violation of the panel decision of September 9, 1997. Employees that do not represent the Teamsters Union are allowed unrestricted access. This matter was clearly addressed during the panel meeting of 9-9-97. Additionally UPS has acknowledged that there are no policies barring employees from entering company property while on leave. UPS District Labor Relations Manager, Mr. John Naddy, acknowledged this fact in his April 30, 1997 reply to my information request of February 25, 1997.
UPS has recently denied another steward access to the Oakland Hub. Randy Olson, a steward from Teamster Local 70, was denied access on Wednesday, March 4th, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act and the panel decision of September 9, 1997. Mr. Olson was attempting to campaign for reelection as shop steward. Upon arriving, Mr. Olson notified the guard of his intention to enter UPS property. Center Manager, Fred Slats was summoned to the employee entrance. Mr. Slats informed Randy Olson that Operations Manager, Gary Medeiros did not want him to enter the property because he felt it would be disruptive. Mr. Olson did not argue. He simply left and returned the following day. Mr. Olson was allowed to enter the property when he returned on Thursday, March 5th, after the voting for shop steward had commenced. The aforementioned actions were arbitrary and obstructed Mr. Olson's campaigning for shop steward. This incident is indicative of the unresolved issue at hand.
It is necessary that the National Labor Relations Board issue a charge against UPS before this matter will be finally resolved. Informal agreements are not binding until they are reduced to writing and enforced. Additionally, formal agreements must be communicated to the rank and file.
You have informed me that you have secured my employee pass from United Parcel Service. Please keep it until the panel decision of September 9, 1997 is rendered comprehensible thus facilitating my return to work.
I sincerely appreciate your extraordinary attempts to bring this matter to resolution.
Fraternally,
Chuck Engel
Shop Steward
Cc:
Kenneth Ko, Deferral Attorney, NLRB (Case #32 CA 15881-UPS)
Randy Olson
