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Main Page Teamster Union Locals
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: IrishCop69

Does anyone know of any Massachusetts Departments that belong to the Local Teamsters Union? We are considering moving to MassCOP, and would like to hear some opinions.

Posted by: dcs2244

The MDC guys were Teamsters and they spoke quite highly of that union.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

The MDC guys were Teamsters and they spoke quite highly of that union.

When a Met got suspended for a year, I believe the Teamsters got him a job making close to what he was making as a cop.

A couple of MA locals say on their websites they represent or have represented police, but make no mention of what departments;

http://www.teamsters.com/about/local...unionsites.asp

Posted by: girlcop21

UMass Lowell PD is represented by Teamsters Local 25

Posted by: dcs2244

If I knew then what I know now....I may very well have cast my vote for the Teamsters. There's something to be said about a out-of-town bargaining unit...

Posted by: BUBBA87

My advice would be to go with Mass Cops. I like to think of them as the teamsters or law enforcement. Teamsters has just started to represent the police. My only problem with teamsters is that they represent many different industries. Much like SEIU. Mass Cops is police and their law firm Sandulli and Grace is outstanding. 10+ attorneys located at 1 state street in Boston.

My dept. decided to go independent to save a few bucks, however it was a close vote with Mass Cops. Good Luck!

Posted by: pahapoika

like any union , it's only as strong as it's membership

law enforcement is tough because of different shifts and days off. it's hard to get all the members at a meeting and of course there's favoritism aka politics that gets members voting against one another.

overtime and family keep allot of guys from being active in their unions and it would be nice if union officials could just deal with management .

however the only thing that seems to get their attention is a couple hundred angry men outside their office

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Posted by: Ht2320

When we were leaving IBPO, we had in a number of groups in at different times to put on presentations for us like Teamsters, MASSCOP, NEPBA and 4 law firms. I think thats the best way to find out who would be the best fit for your local. We ended up going with New England PBA. They have two out standing law firms, one in Quincy and the other in Lowell. My advice would be to bring in all the groups so that the membership is informed when they vote.

Posted by: girlcop21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ht2320

When we were leaving IBPO, we had in a number of groups in at different times to put on presentations for us like Teamsters, MASSCOP, NEPBA and 4 law firms. I think thats the best way to find out who would be the best fit for your local. We ended up going with New England PBA. They have two out standing law firms, one in Quincy and the other in Lowell. My advice would be to bring in all the groups so that the membership is informed when they vote.

I think this is great advice...

I'll probably have my knee caps broken for saying this, but I personally did not like the representation that I got while with Teamsters... I found it to be very politically motivated and the best interests of the department were not kept in mind, rather the best interests of those select few. Definately match your union to that of your department... make sure they meet the goals of your membership.

Posted by: jfontez

Acushet Police Department is represented by the Teamsters. It is a small department about 20 members. PM me with any questions

Posted by: j809

Newburyport and Weymouth PD, are our newest MASSCOP members.

Posted by: HPD104

My old Department Hubbardston P.D. was Teamsters 170. no complaints. i like mass cops better, but thats just a personal opinion. nothing bad to say about teamsters.

Posted by: frapmpd24

At the previous department I worked for (as a dispatcher), we were represented by the Teamsters. Having been the union rep for the dispatchers and been involved in contract negotiations during that time, I had no serious complaints with them. I found out quickly I had to do a large portion much of the research and prep-work for the police dispatchers issues during the contract negotiations, primarily because the business agent was somewhat unfamiliar with the police department environment as a whole. That is probably because most of their union members are truck drivers.

To the business agent's credit, he was top notch during contract talks and kept the pressure on the town. As such, there were some much needed and major improvements to the contract.

The only drawback I felt was we were working within the police department and in the same union as the town hall employees and highway department workers. Everyone had their own specific and conflicting agendas, made worse by not understanding eachothers job issues. Personally, I would have much rather been represented by MassCop, because police departments are their specialty. Where the Teamsters represent many different trades and professions, in my opinion the specialty of a police union would be more of a benefit for the rank and file personnel, be it officers or dispatchers, within a police department.

Posted by: Ht2320

The Newest members of NEPBA are Dunstable, Randolph, Ayer Superiors, Woburn Partol & Superiors, Westboro Patrol, Bourne Patrol & Superiors, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Rockland, Cohasset, Provincetown Patrol & Superiors, Hingham Patrol, Somerset, West Brookfield, Weymouth Superiors, Holbrook, Lowell Partol. That's just since Jan. and only in Mass. They do a very good job; it's "cops representing cops" but as I stated earlyer talk to all groups as we did before picking a Union

Posted by: policelaborlaw.com

The NEPBA does not represent Lowell PD. They're trying to decertify the IBPO, but they haven't elected their bargaining representative. The NEBPA is on the ballot, along with the Lowell Police Union (LPU). The LPU is an independent association of Lowell Police Officers.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

How many Teamster Union officials have been indicted over the years?? The Teamsters Union has been involved with corruption for years, IMHO, law enforcement should seek union representation elsewhere.

Posted by: masstony

I work in NH, we've needed lawyers for some of our guys not so long ago, the Teamsters were no help, they had to go out and get their own lawyers. We will be switching over to the NEPBA come April. The Teamsters are good if you drive a truck or your're in the trades.

Best way to look at it, NEPBA has representation 24/7 as well as lobbying and a union for cops by cops! The more that join, the stronger we will become!

Posted by: coldsteel

Even if your in the trades there still no help.

Posted by: alphadog1

The NEPBA does represent the Lowell Superior Officers

Posted by: DoD102

They did great things for Sunderland PD. Brought us out of the dark ages.

Posted by: j809

Hey POLICELABORLAW, what's up with MCLEA decision from the state?

Posted by: chiefwiggum

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphadog1

The NEPBA does represent the Lowell Superior Officers

From what I understand the NEPBA is relativly new and they want a 10 year commitment. My Dept. is now shopping around and there is a general consensus that the IBPO is out. I was talking with some friends and Boston came up and from what I understand they started their own union with a firm of lawyers that specialize in Law Enforcement/negotiation. That it no big international with big ticket junkets. It seems to me that makes sense. I would appreciate any input on the subject.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

Go MASSCOP, best in MASS and its for COPS only.

Posted by: alphadog1

The Boston Patrolman's Union are represented by a national union: I.U.P.A. Who is the same national that represents the N.E.P.B.A.

Posted by: Ht2320

When my local was planning on leaving IBPO we interviewed a number of labor groups including FOP, MASSCOP, IBPO and NEPBA. We also interviewed a number of law firms. We spent a lot of time reaching all groups and firms, when we finally had our meeting to vote; NEPBA was the clear winner.
And for your information both NEPBA, MASSCOP and Boston are members the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) which represents over 200 departments in Massachusetts. There is no 10 year commitment with NEPBA, if you don't like there service all you have to do is give them a 30 day notice and you are on your own again. Plus your local President is a member of NEPBA's Executive Board so each local has a vote on how NEPBA is run.

Posted by: chiefwiggum

thanks for the input. We'll see how it gos gotta do some research and come to an informed decision.

Posted by: diamondcutter34

Have to agree with the thought that teamsters are probably not the best for LE. We checked out NEPBA and MassCop. Both looked good, we peppered them with a boat load of questions.

NEPBA MASSCOP

LE Only(new england) LE Only(mass)
New(not established) Been around awhile(well established)
Lowell Law firm 6 attny Boston Law Firm 12+ attny loads of LE work

It was close, but MassCops had a slight edge. Been with them some time now. They have been very good. The law firm Sandulli and Grace Top Notch!
responsive and know their shit.

Good Luck

Posted by: policelaborlaw.com

Some procedural history for those of you who aren't familiar with the case:

A group of Massachusetts State and Community College police officers formed the Massachusetts College Law Enforcement Association (MCLEA) in the summer of 2004.

On October 15, 2004, MCLEA filed a petition with the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission seeking to represent (as a Union) CPOs I & II (police officers and sergeants) employed by Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Higher Education.

Beginning in December of 2004 and extending into the Spring of 2005, the LRC held a series of hearings on the issue.

I submitted a 47 page post hearing brief on the matter on April 21, 2005. The link to the post hearing brief:

http://www.masscollegepolice.com/mcl...NG%20BRIEF.pdf

We’re coming up on the two year anniversary and the LRC still hasn’t rendered a decision or sent out proposed findings of fact.

Part of the reason for the delay is that Governor Romney tried to do away with the LRC. He was unsuccessful…so he did the next best thing- he cut their budget. According to the LRC’s Chairman, they’re working at peak efficiency and simply need more staff.

So the short answer to the question is that……we’re still waiting for a decision. The next step in the case is for the LRC Hearing Officer to send out to the parties his proposed findings of fact. Shortly after this is done, the case will be submitted to the LRC members for a decision. It's not unusual for the LRC to take a long time to decide a case. Based on the hearing dates of cases which are coming out of the Commission now, I'd say we're overdue and should be hearing from the LRC any day now.

If the LRC decides in our favor, there will be an election where state and community college police officers will be able to vote to:

1. Stay in AFSCME (an approximately 3,000 member bargaining unit where the cops are lumped in with the janitors, groundskeepers, HVAC technicians, etc…)

2. Join MCLEA (a 100% independent statewide police union) (or)

3. Have no union.

Basically, MCLEA’s argument is that police officers deserve to be in their own police union and shouldn’t be in a “mixed” police / civilian bargaining unit. (i.e. what do they have in common with janitors and landscapers?)

You can read more about MCLEA at http://www.masscollegepolice.com/. Click on LRC Material to view the pleadings.

Feel free to call (508-881-1119) or e-mail me if you have any questions regarding MCLEA.

Brian@Policelaborlaw.com

Posted by: Ht2320

This was just put on New England PBA web site about another group going to leaving the International Brotherhood of Teamsters:

March 28, 2007 –The Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant is clearly a dominate figure as it rises along the costal harbor and it reminds us all of the power it possess. Yet, immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11th - it was also a fearful reminder of the potential risk for a terrorist attack. However, to the many members of the Seabrook, NH Police Department it wasn’t just another national target which needed to be protected as they guarded the gates of this nuclear fortress against enemy attacks and terrorist threats – it was home. However, some of the citizenry has apparently forgotten those brave and dedicated members of the Seabrook, NH Police Union as they recently KO’d the police contract and approved the firefighter’s contract at recent town meeting – after both contracts were approved by the Board of Selectman and the Finance Committee.

Those same dedicated police officers who put their own lives at risk, as well as the safety and security of their own families are now being denied a fair and decent contract. The membership has turned to the fastest-growing all-exclusive law enforcement labor organization in New England to help turn the tide and get them the same contractual protection their brothers and sisters in public safety currently enjoy. The Seabrook, NH Police Union by a devastating 21-1 majority vote elected to disaffiliate from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and join the New England PBA, I.U.P.A., AFL-CIO.

Seabrook, NH Police Union President Scott Mendes said, “We believe the New England PBA has a proven record of accomplishment and we are looking forward to being represented by experienced and knowledgeable law enforcement professionals.”

New England Regional Vice President Ron Scaccia called the addition of the Seabrook Police Union, “A monumental step for the New England PBA in our growth in New Hampshire and a giant step for those members who need and deserve better representation.

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

MASSCOP all the way for US MASSACHUSETTS COPS.

Posted by: CopAHog21

Teamsters should do what they do best - represent truck drivers!
West Brookfield just left the Teamsters. Teamsters and IBPO joined "Change to Win Coalition" what a pair.

Posted by: DoD102

policelaborlaw said it best. We should be represented by a cops union, not a janitors union. It's why I don't belong here at the VA. We have NAGE. I'm sure they're a good union if you are a housekeeper or electrician, etc. When I suggested we might consider FOP or another cop union I was shot down. I think partly because one of our dispatchers is the President. Anyway, I don't belong here. I'm an FOP and MPA member and I'll go with one of those legal defense funds.

Just my 2cents...

Posted by: Motor23

My department has been part of MA Cop for a long time. There was recent talks about changing, but after looking at the services of other unions we stayed. There is no better union that deals with police officers only. The other union seem to be letting a lot of non police into the union. No offense to any other profession, however I like the fact that MA Cop looks out for cops.

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