December 23, 2014: Teamster members fought back in 2014, taking on concessions, organizing to save their benefits, defending members' right to vote, and more. Members can look to these campaigns with hope as we organize to rebuild Teamster power in 2015.
Vote NO!
UPS Teamsters across the country united to reject a historic 18 local supplements and riders in the largest anti-concessions campaign in the U.S. UPS Freight Teamsters Voted No too. While Hoffa and Hall ultimately forced through these contracts, the Vote No movement succeeded in winning some improvements in Teamcare and laid the foundation for acampaign to win elect Teamster leadership in 2016.
With Solidarity in Spades, Vermont Bus Strike Wins Big
How do you win a good contract in a concessionary environement? Vermont bus drivers showed how it's done, uniting with riders, other unions, community and student groups to face down their own union leaders and win an 18-day strike against the Chittenden Country Transit Authority.
New York Local 804 Makes UPS Deliver
While other UPS Teamsters were fighting concessions, Local 804 members won a $400 pension increase, 150 new full-time jobs and grievance procedure reform.
Defending Teamster Democracy
TDU won the right to vote—and we’ll fight to keep it. When Hoffa moved to cancel IBT elections in 2014, members coordinated a national petition drive and collected 12,000 signatures demanding to keep the right to vote for union officers. We’ll be there to safeguard members rights throughout the election process—and we’ll be backing a strong coalition team to win new leadership in the 2016 union elections.
Members Unite to Take Back Our Union
Members proved they’re willing to organize and stand up against concessions at UPS and in freight—the same can’t be said for Hoffa and Hall. So, starting in the summer of 2014, members began to organize and hold events in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Dayton and Louisville to unite members, stewards and officers who are committed to winning new leadership in the 2016 International election.
Rebuilding Teamster Power in Freight?
Drivers at FedEx in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and South Brunswick, NJ and at Conway in Miami, Los Angeles, and Laredo, TX voted to join the Teamsters. Is this the start of movement to organize in freight and trucking? We hope so! It’s certainly a good first step, and it should spread. Local unions and freight workers are stepping up to take action. The IBT needs to get behind this movement and help drive it to victory.
Fighting for Good Jobs & Quality Healthcare
In 2013, TDU members built a diverse reform team and took back the statewide Rhode Island Local 251. This year, they reduced salaries to put resources in member education and mobilization, held steward elections, and negotiated dozens of improved contracts. Now they’ve launched a campaign bringing together 2,500 Teamsters, patients and community allies for good jobs and quality care at Rhode Island’s biggest hospital.
Fighting for Our Pensions
TDU members formed local committees, petitioned Congress, and led a coalition campaign against proposed cuts to retirees’ already-earned pensions. Congress passed the pension cut legislation but our Campaign for Pension Justice will continue make our voices heard from Capitol Hill to the Central States Pension Fund.
Coalition for Change
The growing movement to bring new vision and leadership to the Teamsters is broader than TDU. It seeks to unite all members, stewards, officers and Teamster leaders who are committed to fighting concessions and to building a strong coalition to win in the 2016 International Election. Fred Zuckerman spoke at the TDU Convention in November which hosted the first national meet-up of the new movement.