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Important Scholarship Announcement

IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
 
If you have a son or daughter that is a high school senior who plans to attend college or a vocational school, request a scholarship application today!
 
The sons and daughters of Teamster members can apply for the annual scholarships provided by the Joint Council 10 of New England.
 
High school seniors who plan to attend an accredited college, university or an approved vocational school are eligible to apply for the scholarships.
 
 
Teamsters Local 127
197 Main St. Suite 201 
Milford, MA 01757

 

Pay Disparity

MassDOT has not agreed to bring current members making less than the new hires up to the maximum step grade.  As it stands, MassDOT has the right to bring any new employee in at any step grade on a case-by-case basis, with approval from the Chief Human Resources Officer.  This issue is not able to be arbitrated.  While the Union understands how impactful this is to the affected membership, this unfortunately is the end result of negotiations surrounding current pay disparities.

George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local 127
Phone 508-473-0510

WorkPartners

Dear Teamsters members,

On December 15th, MassDOT expanded the use of WorkPartners, the third-party administrator, to request extended medical leaves and for reporting day-to-day sick call. Members are given a choice to use a self-service portal or call in their requests on a recorded line.

Teamsters have NOT agreed to the use of this third-party vendor. Your Union believes that compelling a member to use this platform to access your contractual benefits is at the very least a change in working conditions but could additionally be a breach of your rights.

When the self-serve portal came on-line, Teamsters had an opportunity to read the “Terms of Use” and discovered that by agreeing to the terms, members will allow WorkPartners access to data not related to your need for leave. Under the Terms and Conditions of the WorkPartners portal, the use of their system allows access to GPS and other geolocation of the device being used, access to the camera, photo album, contacts and other websites used by the device, and monitoring and recording of other information, usage trends, and device activity to target information to the user. Moreover, the Terms and Conditions also includes language pertaining to the storage, sharing, and use of information provided to subsidiary and related companies to WorkPartners. Additionally, Teamsters have NOT agreed to voice recording of our members and we have NOT agreed to the collection of data pertaining to your leave requests.

Because MassDOT is moving forward despite our objections, the Union is advising members to comply with the direction from the employer(s) to use WorkPartners so that your requested leave(s) will not be in jeopardy and to give WorkPartners any information you feel is necessary to facilitate your leave and that you are comfortable sharing with this third party. 

However, two important things you need to know about your interactions with Workpartners are:

First, there is a form entitled “Authorization to Release” Information that will be given to you when you apply for extended benefits. By signing this document, you give WorkPartners the right to call and speak to your healthcare provider about your condition or your family member’s condition. WorkPartners can ask any question they believe to be necessary to clarify and/or authenticate your leave request. The Union would advise you NOT to sign this document unless WorkPartners articulates the specific reason why they must speak to your medical provider. If you are uncomfortable or question having WorkPartners contact your medical provider, please reach out to your Union representative. 

Second, when calling in to WorkPartners to report a leave, or when using the self-serve portal for day-to-day sick calls, you may give WorkPartners any information you feel necessary; however, if you are uncomfortable giving out detailed information when you are asked the reason for your need for leave, you can answer by saying "I choose not to disclose". This answer is consistent with current WorkPartners training documents. Please remember that all calls to the WorkPartners phone number will be recorded, and any information provided via phone or the portal is currently being documented. 

In solidarity,

George E. McGilloway
Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local, 127

Quarantine Sick Leave

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
If you have been instructed by MASSDOT to quarantine in the absence of symptoms of COVID-19, as a result of not receiving a booster vaccine, please contact the Teamsters Local 127 office. A grievance was filed by USW on this matter and the determined resolution is that MASSDOT will reimburse any sick leave taken as a result of this guidance. 
 
In Solidarity,
 
George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer

Teamsters Local 127

 

Website Update

Brothers and Sisters,

As I’m sure you already know MassDOT is going live with their Workpartners program on Thursday September 22nd.  We presented the DOT with a demand to bargain on this matter on June 14th and have yet to meet at the bargaining table. 

As for the Red Circled employees the Teamsters have filed a Step II grievance to get the contractual raises you are owed. Hopefully it won’t have to go to arbitration but we are prepared if that situation arises.

George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local 127
Phone 508-473-0510

 

Red-circled Unit B and C members

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Please note this communication sent from our attorney:


Dear Olinda:

Per my message this afternoon, I need to speak with you at your very earliest opportunity regarding certain Unit B and C members — particularly the custodial staff — whom the Department has treated as “red-circled” and thus has failed to provide any retro pay or wage increases under our most recent contract.  As you know, the subject of red-circled employees was never discussed at the bargaining table, so it comes as a surprise that anyone covered by the MOAs has not received the agreed-upon wage increases.  The problem is exponentially greater now inasmuch as the Department has just seen fit to give an additional 10 percent wage increase (for a total of almost 17% over the life of the CBA) to the highest paid and mostly white male workforce of Unit E, while continuing to give absolutely nothing to the mostly female and BIPOC members at the lowest end of the pay spectrum.

At this juncture, the Union respectfully requests that the Department provide the following information:

1.   A list of all Unit B and C employees whom the Department contends are red-circled and thus unable to receive any or all of the agreed upon retro pay and wage increases.

2.   A copy of any agreement between the parties or any law, rule, regulation or policy that the Department relied on to determine that any Unit B or C employees are red-circled at this juncture.

I would appreciate the opportunity to talk to you as soon as possible without regard to the time it may take to respond to the Union’s information request.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this exceedingly important matter.

 Regards,

 Al
 Attorney for Teamsters Local 127
 


"Update"
    Teamsters were informed that Covid hazard pay is on its way: second pay period in July.

"Update"
    Teamsters are still in talks about the pay disparity issues whereas new hires came in at top step for life experience that was not afforded to all our members.


My promise to you all: I will fight with VIGOR all the way to arbitration and or District Court.

George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local 127

MassDOT Units B and C 2020-2023 CBAs Retro Pay and Pay Increase Implementation Schedule

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
I'm writing to provide MassDOT's implementation schedule for the Units B and C 2020-2023 CBAs with respect to retro pay and raises.

    Beginning the pay period starting May 8, 2022, employees' salaries shall be adjusted to reflect the new pay scale that became effective July 2021. This will be reflected in the May 27, 2022 pay advice.

    Beginning the pay period starting May 22, 2022,  Units B & C retroactive payments* for the period from December 6, 2020 to May 7, 2022 will be processed.  This will be reflected in the June 10, 2022 pay advice.

        *Currently, there are 147 employees who changed bargaining units between Units B and C during the contract term, primarily as a result of the classification study. Because of changes in bargaining units, the retroactive payments covering December 6 2020 to May 7, 2022 for these 147 employees must be calculated manually.  HR is trying to get those payments included in the June 10, 2022 pay advice. I will update you when we learn the date this payment shall be paid to these 147 employees.

    All Unit B and C employee retroactive payments for the period of July 5, 2020 through December 5, 2020 must be calculated manually, as a result of the classification study implementation.  HR is trying to get those payments included in the June 10, 2022 pay advice. I will update you when we learn the date for this payment.

    Beginning the pay period starting June 5, 2022, the 1.5% bonus pay (minimum $1,000) will be processed for Unit B & C employees.  This will be reflected In the June 24, 2022 pay advice.

    Beginning the pay period starting July 3, 2022, the 2022 pay increase will be processed for Units B & C employees.  This will be reflected in the July 22, 2022 pay advice.

MassDOT and HRD have not determined the date the Hazard Pay payment shall be made. However, we anticipate it will be after the completion of the schedule noted above. I will update you when I have a specific date.
 
George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local 127

 

Salary Increases

Attention Brothers And Sisters,
 
All contractual pay increases will be implemented starting the week of 5/8/22 and will be in the 5/27/22 paychecks. The DOT still hasn’t given a timeframe on the retro and COVID payments we are owed.
 
George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer
Teamsters Local 127

 

Union Update

On April, 4.2022, Governor Baker signed bill H.4578 into law. In that bill is the supplemental budget for our cost-of-living raises that are owed to us upon completion of our last contract between MassDOT and the unions. We appreciate your patience during this process and just know the money is coming now sooner than later. Also, under the new contract all licenses and continuing education that are required for you job are reimbursable, including your DOT physical.
 
In Solidarity,
Brother George
 
George E. McGilloway
Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Executive Officer

Teamsters Local 127

 

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