Union Flyers

May 16,2005

General Membership Meeting Wednesday May 18, 2005

This Wednesday we will have a General Membership meeting at the Knights of Columbus in Linden. At this meeting the membership will suggest proposals for the Contract to the Executive Board that may be presented to ConocoPhillips sooner or later. Timing is important in all aspects of life and this is no different.

The Company tendered a non bargainable contract offer of money and a lump sum and the membership decided to direct the Executive board not to vote the offer. So it was turned down without a vote. The Company withdrew the offer and so we have several options.

We can ignore this offer like it never happened and wait till 2006 to bargain a contract.

We can offer to bargain now with the Company and hence this proposal meeting.

Or we can make a non bargainable contract offer to the Company in return for theirs.

For the Union to ignore this is not prudent. Whenever we have bargained in the past we were denied full success. I believe the third option is the best for the following reasons:

We can let ConocoPhillips know that most of our problems rest with just a small minority of local management.

Our low cost/ no cost items are of a non threatening nature and will benefit the Union and the Company.

Economic justice for the East and West coast refineries are basic arguments that must be addressed without reservation in order to bring these employees fully on the team.

Health care costs are being born unevenly across the Company and need to be fair and equal.

Our long term disability could be the sham of the decade and must be changed.

Bayway refinery has some of the most experienced employees in the Company and we are much more cost effective than contractors. I am glad to see this hiring for sure.

This Union has done everything in the defense of the membership and for the good of the Company even though we have been unfairly maligned and misunderstood.

We can let ConocoPhillips know that they have been played just as much as we have by that minority of Bayway management.

Through our just and sincere proposals the membership can ask ConocoPhillips for consideration and honesty in our relationship going forward.

It is a two way street that is now empty in the Company lane, this must change.

We need your proposals so go to the meeting. Pizza-soda-solidarity-Teamsters.

Finally, it remains our responsibility as a Union to let the Company know just how important these proposals are and we can do that quite well if need be.

We attended the ConocoPhillips annual stockholders meeting and addressed the group with all the other Locals. Some success was achieved but you should see and hear this meeting for yourself on the Company intranet, check it out. Also, go to ibt877.com and press all the buttons on the left side for new info at least once a week. I am learning the web site program. See you at the meeting Wednesday May 18, 2005. (This Wednesday!)

April 27, 2005

CONTRACT PROPOSAL MEETING

At the May 18, 2005 General Membership Meeting contract proposals will be solicited from the membership in preparation for a contract extension offer to be made to ConocoPhillips. In an effort to expedite this meeting it is requested that all contract proposals be prepared in advance and in writing for presentation to the Contract Committee.

ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEETING

The Contract Committee will have a preliminary offer prepared and available for review at this meeting. If you are not happy about high medical premiums, retiree issues, unfair work rules and inadequate compensation in general, then

THIS IS YOUR MEETING TO BE HEARD

PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND

Teamsters Local 877
N.J. Oil, Chemical and Terminal Workers
411A N. Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ 07036
Office: 908-925-6707 v Fax:908-925-6788