March 19, 2007: The attack on our pensions began while the ink was still drying on Hoffa’s promise that our benefits would be secure under the ‘Best Contract Ever.’ First came the pension cuts in 2003. Then the misnamed Pension Protection Act.After three years of attacks, contract negotiations give us the chance go on the offensive and win the pension improvements we need.To help Teamsters make the most of this opportunity, Make UPS Deliver will...

March 19, 2007: Six months have passed since our union kicked off bargaining with UPS. Early bargaining has now lasted longer than the entire 2002 talks—and we’re still being kept in the dark.Here's how you can help. Download the new bulletin to put pressure on the International Union to end the news blackout. Download an email sign-up sheet to build our rank-and-file network.

March 21, 2007: When’s the last time that half of the members of your local union attended a general membership meeting? That’s what happened in Boston Local 82 when more than 300 Teamsters turned out, on St. Patrick’s Day no less, to vote on a series of proposals that would strip them of democratic rights they won just one year ago. Each one of the proposals went down in defeat. “The members stood up for...

Every five years, our Teamsters Union holds an International Convention. The convention nominates candidates for International officers. Delegates also have the power to amend any provision of the constitution. At many Conventions, members have been stripped of our rights. For the last 30 years, TDU has mobilized at Conventions to reverse that trend and win new rights with some successes. Here’s a quick review of how our rights have been strengthened and weakened in the...

March 19, 2007: Sopris Capital, an investment firm, has made a bid to the bankruptcy court to take over Allied, with a proposal filed on March 15, 2007. Sopris’ proposal states that they will put forth “$100 million in capital expenditures” and “the Yucaipa Plan calls for the sale of the Canadian operations [to Yucaipa!]…the Canadian operations represent a…disproportionately high amount of operating income.” Also, Automotive New reported in their March 12 edition that Yucaipa...

2006 Teamster Election ArchiveReports and stories on the 2006 Teamster Election and the organizing efforts of Teamster members to elect the Tom Leedham Strong Contracts, Good Pensions Slate. Visit the archive.   2006 Teamster Election ArchiveReports and stories on the 2006 Teamster Election and the organizing efforts of Teamster members to elect the Tom Leedham Strong Contracts, Good Pensions Slate. Visit the archive.  

TDU in Action—Local Union Reform“I got involved in TDU through a reform group in my local, the New Leadership Slate. Without TDU, we would not have caught the corrupt officers stealing our local election or have the hope to turn our union around.”Joe Sexauer, Local 743, University of Chicago, Chicago “We want our union to be controlled by the members and to fight for us, not the company. TDU gives us the information we need...

TDU in Action—Pension and Benefits“TDU will support any fight launched by the International Union to defend our benefits. And we will continue to inform members so we can put pressure on the employers and on Hoffa, when necessary, to save and strengthen our benefits.”K.W. Phillips, RoadwayLocal 667, Memphis, Tenn. Contact our rank-and-file network for pension justice. Pension Workshops: Our Rights, the Benefit Cuts and How We Can Beat ThemTDU brings together concerned Teamsters and pension...

March 15, 2007: Since 2003, our Teamster benefits have been under attack from pension cuts to anti-worker legislation. But the coming year presents us with our best chances yet to take the offensive, reverse the cuts, and improve our benefits for the future—starting with the UPS and Freight contract negotiations. TDU Pension Rights WorkshopTo succeed, we need to understand the challenges we face and put together a plan that can win the pension protections and...

Interview with Dawn Stanger,Local 597, UPS, VT Why did you get involved in solidarity work? I realized how important it was during the UPS strike. Every time people came to the picket line with donuts and hung out and talked, I realized that there are hundreds and probably thousands of union members who have common concerns and interests who don’t know each other and never talk to each other about union issues. Eventually I got...