Grocery Strike: Teamsters Local 633/AGNE Associated Grocers North East

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[Nights]

This is a very important Strike for Grocery Teamsters everywhere .What a dangerous precedent this would set if the company is successful in eliminating the union pension. Other big grocery companies are watching this with great interest. It would be an automatic windfall if the employers can exchange the union pension for a 401k whether there's a match or not.

This is simply corporate greed wih no concern for the workers or the community.

[AlJackson1962!]

I wonder if AG transitioned into the new employers liability pool under the New England Teamsters Pension Fund (NETTIPF) . If not the Fund requires annual 8% increases on the hourly pension fund contribution; if AG did transition, the benefit level (based on hourly contributions) is subject to bargaining (that's my understanding as of 2022). If my recollection is correct, that is one of the drawbacks to the NETTIPF transition from the legacy employer liability pool into the new employer liability pool. Under the rules of the legacy liability pool of participating employers, the hourly pension contribution cannot be reduced, and any withdrawal from the NETTIPF will trigger a withdrawal liability; whereas the withdrawal liability, upon transition into the new employer liability pool has been eliminated.

Notwithstanding that downside of transition from the legacy pool into the new employer pool, the 8% annual increases were making the overall economic package unsustainable (wages. H&W, Pension). Many contracts require contribution rates over $20.00 per hour to just maintain current benefit levels.

But I agree 100% with Nights above post. As a young Teamster I didn't give a lot of thought to my Teamster pension. Wages and health insurance for me, my wife and kids was always paramount on economics. But now being an old man and retired, fight like hell to preserve, increase, and protect your Teamster pension benefits - all paid 100% by the Employer and your benefits are defined; you know what you'll get upon retirement.

Although the Butch Lewis Act only guarantees benefit levels earned and promised through 2051 (I'll be 99 then, so we've got some time to organize before that date), thank you to all Democrats in Congress who all voted in favor of the Butch Lewis Act and thank you VP Kamala Harris, who broke the 50-50 Senate tie vote on that bill as every Republican in Congress voted against the Butch Lewis Act. Are you listening GP O'Brien (apparently not).

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Video Report

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AGNE says it's hiring permanent replacements as the strike continues.

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BA arrested at picket line after scab driver complaint.

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