(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Teamsters Local 264-represented Members who work for Tops Markets-owned Erie Logistics LLC are carrying out a public campaign aimed at educating the public on what they say is management’s “breaking of a promise” to provide a good retirement for its Employees.

Erie Logistics operates as a subsidiary of Tops Markets LLC and operates a warehouse distribution facility on Genesee Street in the Buffalo Suburb of Lancaster.  The dispute involves getting $16 million in pension money restored to the pension fund.  Teamsters Local 264 represents 650 Members who are employed at Erie Logistics.

Local 264 has issued the following statement in regards to its campaign against Tops and Erie Logistics: Teamsters Local 264 has engaged in a Corporate Campaign against Tops Markets/ Erie Logistics due to a dispute over frozen retirement benefits for our Membership.  Our Members have been caught in the middle of a dispute between the Employer and the New York State Teamsters Retirement Fund since early 2014.  The Local Union has tried to resolve this issue through all possible means available including mediation, direct negotiations and arbitration - and yet our Members continue to go without retirement benefits.  We have fought for our Members in every way possible, in every venue, except in the public eye - until now.  We recently brought our fight to the public at the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge and we have multiple campaigns planed just like it.  We will not idly stand by while this employer to continues this injustice against our Membership.  Our hope is the Employer will reverse its course now that they are being judged in the public eye.  Currently the Employer has two options to protect and restore benefits to our Membership: Accept an offer from the Pension Fund to restore retirement benefits and release past accruals for our Members; or Place our Members accrued pension contributions into a trust ensuring the money would only be used for its intention, their retirement.  Of the two options, the Local Union would prefer the first, but short of an agreement we must insist that at least the second occur immediately.  We will continue to pressure the Employer until it does. 

In a subsequent press release, Teamsters Local 264 President Brian Dickman said: "This is ‘leaving Workers in limbo.’  There are ‘numerous Workers in the facility who want to retire, but aren't able to.’  Companies were at the race to show they are ‘good’ neighbors.  Tops ‘portrays itself as a friendly community market,’ but ‘this kind of corporate behavior is outrageous.’  It ‘hurts us, our families and our communities."

In a subsequent interview with WNYLaborToday.com, Dickman said: “This is the ‘gift that keeps on giving’ and (this pension dispute) is the ‘first of its kind’ – ‘it’s setting precedents.’  Tops has’ moved away and stopped making pension payments.’  They are ‘holding’ (the $16 million) and are ‘claiming it as an asset when it must be put into a trust.’  The company ‘refuses to segregate ‘(the $16 million in pension money) and ‘we can’t think of one good reason why.’  We’ve ‘exhausted all our energy sitting down and trying to get something done.’”

When asked by Your On-Line Labor Newspaper why Tops would take this kind of non-action with the Union Members pension money, Dickman answered: “We have (650) Members who ‘don’t have a pension.’  ‘You would have to ask Tops why not.’” 

The Tops Workers, who are represented by Local 264 that’s headquartered in Suburban Cheektowaga, distributed leaflets to those who took part in the recently-held and annual 3.5-mile JP Morgan Corporate Challenge run in Buffalo’s Delaware Park that read: Tops Never Stops … Breaking Promises.  During the race, an airplane banner flew overhead bearing the same message.  The Workers also held signs up for the runners to read as they ran by that read: "Workers Were Promised They Could Retire, Turns Out That Tops Is A Big Fat Liar."

Thirty-year Tops Worker Marvin Ziemba was one of those holding a sign as the runners ran by.

"I ‘haven't asked for anything I haven't earned,’" he said in the Union’s press release. "I'm ‘eligible’ to retire, but ‘I can't right now.’  ‘All I want to do is go be with my daughter.’  ‘We deserve to retire with dignity’ and young people in our communities ‘should be able to have access to jobs that open up when people like me retire.’  ‘This isn't good for anyone.’"

Teamsters Local 264 Representative Darrin Ziemba told WNYLaborToday.com that more public actions will be coming should Tops not rectify the pension problem: “You’ll ‘definitely see more coming in the coming weeks.’  ‘We will be everywhere.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Photos taken of the Teamster-represented Tops Workers at the Delaware Park run are courtesy of Yves-Richard Blanc of YR Blanc & Company/The Media Truck.  The photo of the distributed flier is courtesy of the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ), via its Social Network Facebook Page.