UTU Merger: What Would It Mean for Teamster Engineers?
July 12, 2007: by Jim Eubanks and Ed Michael: The United Transportation Union (UTU), the main union for conductors on the railways, is proposing a merger with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA). Why is the UTU so eager to merge with the SMWIA when they have a natural merger partner sitting across the engine cab from their members—the Teamster engineers in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen? A merger with the BLET...
IBT Election Supervisor Upholds Virtue’s Firing
July 12, 2007: IBT Election Supervisor Richard Mark has very likely made his final decision of the 2006 IBT Campaign, and done so in a confusing manner. Mark upheld the firing of Dan Virtue and Carlos Ramos by Hoffa, for the “crime” of Virtue running for Eastern International Vice President. Mark reasoned that since the action was taken after the election was over and certified, Hoffa could fire any political opponents and hire any cronies....
Ex-Houston Local President Gets 6 ½ Years
July 12, 2007: On May 26 former Houston Local 988 President Chuck Crawley was sentenced to 6 ½ years in federal prison for embezzling union funds and stealing a union election. Crawley was already banned from the Teamsters by the Independent Review Board (IRB), after James Hoffa dragged his feet and slowed down an internal investigation. Ed Stier, the former anti-corruption director for the IBT, investigated Crawley and found evidence of several money-skimming scams involving...
Ballot Fraud: Feds to Run Local 743 Election
July 12, 2007: The members of Chicago Local 743 will get a different kind of election this fall thanks to action taken by the 743 New Leadership Slate in proving ballot fraud in the last election. This time, the U.S. Department of Labor will conduct the nominations and election, instead of the incumbents. “We voted the corrupt ‘Old Guard’ out, but they stole the election. This time when we vote them out, they will really...
UofC Teamsters Push for Strong Contract
July 12, 2007: By Joe Sexauer, Local 743: After five months without a contract, over 1,000 janitors, clerks, and maintenance Teamsters at the University of Chicago are still fighting hard for better wages and benefits. We’re members of Teamsters Local 743. Our local leaders haven’t organized a contract campaign, so rank-and-file members decided to organize a campaign on our own. First, we started by organizing on-site lunch meetings, where union members can come together and...
Time for Change in Local 726
July 12, 2007: By John Dominikovich Local 726, Chicago: It’s time for change in Chicago Local 726, to make this union strong and proud. I see that change happening this fall in the union election. I’ve worked for the Cook County Highway Department for 25 years and I’ve been a Local 726 member for 20 years. I’ve seen our driver jobs reduced by 50 percent. Jobs have been farmed out with little fight from our...
Waste Management Locks Out 500 Teamsters in Oakland
July 12, 2007: Waste Management has locked out 500 Teamsters in Oakland, Calif. for refusing to give in to company demands that they pay a larger share of their healthcare benefits. The lockout by Waste Management is a calculated attack on our union’s efforts to build Teamster power in the wastehaul industry. It requires an equally strong response by our International Union and the solidarity of every Teamster. The company locked out 500 Local 70...
Sicko Is Greato
July 6, 2007: What’s great about Sicko, the new movie by Michael Moore, is that it clearly shows how the pharmaceutical and insurance industries are running a scam on every one. And, while covering such a life-and-death topic, the movie manages to be a lot of fun. The first half of the movie follows the lives of a variety of everyday folks, all of whom have health insurance with major companies. It shows, up close...
Letters From Our Members
Hoffa Sells Labor Peace on the CheapIt’s time we faced up to the number one problem in our union. The problem is a lack of leadership coming from Junior Hoffa and his associates. These parasites don’t want to have their sleeping arrangements disturbed. They sell labor peace on the cheap, rather than working for the dues-paying members’ concerns. Keep up the battle for a democratic Teamsters Union. We’re behind you. Delmar BequetteRoadway, Local 600New Douglas,...
Support Locked Out Waste Management Teamsters
July 10, 2007: Waste Management has locked out 500 Teamsters in Oakland, Calif. for refusing to give in to company demands that they pay a larger share of their healthcare benefits. The lockout is entering its second week. These locked out Teamsters deserve our full support. Teamsters Local 70 and Waste Management met with a mediator on Monday, July 9th but both sides reported no progress. The company has brought in 200 scabs but has...