Trump's Pick for Labor Secretary Doesn't Think Workers Should Get Breaks

http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2016/12/our-new-labor-overlord-thinks-workers-shouldnt-get-breaks
But this isn't some exotic new political creed introduced by Trump. It's warmed-over Republicanism.

TOM PHILPOTT DEC. 28, 2016 1:45 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, your new labor secretary, burger magnate Andrew Puzder, left, and your new energy secretary, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Jack Plunkett/AP Images for Carl's Jr.

The US Department of Labor exists to "foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners [and] job seekers," and to "improve working conditions" and "assure work-related benefits and rights." Andrew Puzder, Donald Trump's choice to lead the department, has not exactly embodied those values in his career as CEO of CKE Restaurants, parent company of fast-food chains Hardee's and Carl's Jr. He's a staunch and vocal opponent of minimum-wage hikes, and his company has had to pay out millions of dollars to settle overtime claims (more here).

"Have you ever been to a fast food restaurant and the employees are sitting and you're wondering, 'Why are they sitting?'" Puzder asked. "They are on what is called a mandatory break."  

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from https://teamster.org/news

Local 722 Secures Reinstatement For Member After Wrongful Termination

Back Pay, Full Benefits Secured In Arbitration

In a recent arbitration, reinstatement and back pay were secured for a Teamster who was wrongfully terminated from Bay Valley Foods in Dixon, Illinois. The Teamster is returning to work with more than $79,000 in owed wages and full benefits thanks to the efforts of Local 722 President and Principal Officer Steve Mongan.

In the award, the arbitrator concluded that “no just cause for any discipline was proven.”

“It was justified in getting an improper termination rescinded and making this worker whole. It was so wrong what Bay Valley Foods did and how they did it, she wasn’t deserving of anything like this,” Mongan said. “I’m glad that the arbitrator saw through the smokescreen and ordered her back to work with all rights restored.”

Local 722 -located in La Salle, Illinois- has won all nine of the grievances it took to arbitration in 2016, Mongan reported. This was the third and final arbitration at Bay Valley Foods in 2016.

NBM

Birmingham, AL withdrew a petition for union elections due to scare tactics and lack of information. We will not fold and go away, we will petition once again in 6 months.  We are going to use this time to better inform and educate ourselves. Let's hold our heads up high for Birmingham. Getting this far is an accomplishment in itself. We will show them that even in the anti-union South, we can unionize!

Federal Court Ruling is Victory for XPO Workers in Laredo, Texas

https://teamster.org/news/2016/12/federal-court-ruling-victory-xpo-workers-laredo-texas

A federal court has denied XPO/Con-way’s latest attempt to delay the decision by workers in Laredo, Texas to form their union as Teamsters with Local 657.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected the company’s petition for review of an order of the National Labor Relations Board requiring the company to recognize Local 657 as the workers’ bargaining representative. The workers voted to form their union as Teamsters in September 2014.

“The court has rejected yet another attempt by XPO to delay justice to these workers,” said Frank Perkins, President of Local 657 in San Antonio. “The company can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but we think that is unlikely in this case. We demand that the company respect these workers’ wishes and begin bargaining a contract soon.”

James Hoffa is keeping the pressure on XPO

Teamsters to Head Off Potential XPO CEO Pay Bonanza

https://teamster.org/news/2016/12/teamsters-head-potential-xpo-ceo-pay-bonanza

Potential $110 Million Windfall for CEO Sparks Investor Call for Vote Against Incentive Plan at Special Meeting

(WASHINGTON) – Today, in a letter to XPO Logistics’ [NYSE: XPO] Board of Directors, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters raised objections to the company’s proposed 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the Plan) that could provide a windfall stock award for CEO Bradley Jacobs worth $110 million at current stock price levels.

At a special meeting on December 20, 2016, XPO shareholders will vote on the proposed plan which reserves 3.4 million new shares and increases the individual annual equity award limit from 500,000 shares to 2.5 million.

Absent an amendment to the Plan that would set a moderate and reasonable individual award limit, the Teamsters will vote against the Plan and recommend fellow shareholders do the same.

In the letter to XPO Lead Independent Director Michael Jesselson, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall notes that the Plan as proposed could allow the board to award Jacobs compensation that is 160 times his base salary and five times the target value of the equity award he was granted under his new employment agreement, which is designed to cover the four-year term of the new contract.

Hall also questions the efficacy of the plan design to incentivize management. In the letter Hall states, “We believe the board would have ample room to incentivize and retain executives with a lower limit, particularly considering the new plan also doubles the maximum, annual cash award payable to any individual to $10 million. Moreover, with CEO Jacobs already holding 15 percent of common shares, it is not clear to us that large equity awards are required to retain and incentivize his services.”

“Under no conceivable scenario is a payout of 2.5 million shares to CEO Jacobs, the company’s largest shareholder, justifiable,” Hall said. “The board has lost sight of one of its prime responsibilities—establishing sound executive pay practices that incentivize performance and protect the interests of shareholders.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.