Picking the Right Doctor in Workers' Compensation Claims
By William R. Cahill, Jr.

Assuming your employer has been notified of your work-related injury, where do you go from there? Some companies will suggest you go to a specific healthcare provider with whom they have an established relationship.

You want to find a physician that you connect with and have confidence in. There are some specific steps you must take to make that happen.

Click here to read more...

Local Nurses Win 4-Year Battle to Have Health Care for Themselves
With David A. Lucas

The nurses at Saint Mary Home wanted health care for themselves. They voted to unionize to push harder for the benefit. But their employer said their vote was illegitimate.

A federal court ended the four-year conflict last month when it ruled the nurses were employees and could unionize. The ruling went into effect immediately and applies to all St. Mary's nurses, including those who started working in the four years following the vote.

Click here to read more and see the court order...

Worker Health & Wellness Tip: H1N1 Flu Preparedness

As the flu season continues to progress, the Teamster Union wants to ensure that all of our members are well informed and prepared for the threat posed by the new H1N1 virus.

Click here to read the "Teamster H1N1 Flu Preparedness" information sheets...

Cell Phone for Soldiers and Bringing Cheer to the Elderly - A Message from the JC10 Women's Committee
From Alice Therese Riley-King

In our last meeting, Jackie Addison from Local 25 brought in a news article regarding "cell phones for soldiers" and asked me to look into it. I did and actually had the opportunity to meet the two young people who started the program. Talk about dynamic. This brother and sister are two of the most energetic, nicest, and caring young people you will ever meet.

This is quite a program and what a special way to give back to those who serve and protect the United States of America. I will be having flyers made to post in the work places to collect cell phones. I will need your help to make this "our" venture.

Click here to read more and give your support...

Local News and Legislative Updates

• Local 633 Concludes a Number of Successful Negotiations
  
  Local 633 has had many successes in negotiating contracts in many different areas. Some of our recently concluded negotiations have been with:
  
  

  • The University of New Hampshire Patrolmen, continuing Teamster Healthcare (NNEBT), wage increases, and equity adjustments in the first year of up to $2.00 an hour.
    
    
  • New Hampshire Distributors (Budweiser), continuing Teamster Healthcare (NNEBT), wage increases, and adjustments to extra pay for extra work (doubles).
    
    
  • The City of Lebanon NH, as most Cities and Towns look to downsize, we protected our jobs and got wage increases every year of the contract.
    
    
• Half-Million Dollars Awarded in Unfair Labor Practices Case
  
  The Interstate Brands' Sales Supervisors from Local 633 were benefactors of an incredible National Labor Relations Board decision, followed by an arbitration decision that forced the Company to pay almost a half million dollars in lost wages and benefits.
  
  It was widely reported that Interstate Brands had unilaterally re-classified the Supervisors and taken them out from under their Teamster contract. Local 633 in cooperation with the New England Bakery Drivers' Council filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, and simultaneously filed for arbitration.  Both decisions were letter perfect from the Union's perspective.
  
  To date all members who wanted to be re-instated have been, and some have even taken their windfall and retired.
  
  Business Agent Jeff Padellaro stated, "The proud Teamster members who took concessions to keep this Company afloat should not have had to endure this whole ordeal, but in the end they are certainly better for it.
  
  "This Company learned that, even in the face of adversity, Teamsters will make sure that the job gets done, but please do not ever take that commitment for granted, we will fight for our rights, and the members did a great job."