Labor Movement

Hoffa Appointee's Boston Goon Squad

TDU — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:06:50 -0500

May 22, 2009: Hoffa’s Trade Show Director John Perry is in court on charges of assaulting a Teamster member for filing a grievance.

WSJ: Lockout Tests Union's Clout

TDU — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:20:56 -0600

January 30, 2012: LONDON, Ontario—Outside a rail locomotive factory owned by Caterpillar Inc. here, locked-out workers have set up a trailer and a wooden shack to keep warm between bouts of waving union flags and shouting slogans. In a high-profile test of union clout in Canada, they are digging in for what looks like a long struggle.

Labor board chief to press for new union rules

TDU — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:18:32 -0600

January 30, 2012: The chairman of the National Labor Relations Board hopes to have another round of regulations in place by the end of the year that would make it easier for unions to establish and win representation elections in workplaces.

More Lockouts as Companies Battle Unions

TDU — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:26:42 -0600

January 23, 2012: America’s unionized workers, buffeted by layoffs and stagnating wages, face another phenomenon that is increasingly throwing them on the defensive: lockouts.

One Million Say “Recall Gov. Scott Walker!”

TDU — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:30:03 -0600

January 20, 2012: Last year, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker pushed through one of the worst anti-union laws in the country.

Labor Notes: Thousands Rally Against Indiana ‘Right to Work’ Bill

TDU — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:15:55 -0600

January 20, 2012: As they fought to put a “right-to-work” bill to a voter referendum, Indiana Democratic legislators boycotted House sessions yesterday and today—and were locked out of caucus rooms by Republican-majority leaders.

In U.S., a Cheaper Labor Pool

TDU — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:31:13 -0600

January 6, 2012: Trying to persuade locked-out workers in Canada to accept a sharp cut in pay, Caterpillar Inc. is citing lower wages elsewhere. But instead of pointing to the usual models of cheap and pliant labor, such as China or Mexico, it is using a more surprising example: the U.S.

President to Appoint Three NLRB Members, Giving Board a Quorum, Democratic Majority

TDU — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:21:09 -0600

January 5, 2012: President Obama Jan. 4 announced his intent to recess appoint two Democrats and a Republican to serve as members of the National Labor Relations Board, restoring a quorum on the five-seat board that was lost Jan. 3 with the departure of Member Craig Becker.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Employers Charged with Embezzling from Local 282 Fund

TDU — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:18:44 -0600

December 30, 2011: The owners of a New York City construction and demolition debris trucking contractor have been indicted on charges that they engaged in a scheme to skirt a collective bargaining agreement and embezzle more than $1 million in union benefit fund payments, prosecutors announced Dec. 22.

NLRB Guidance on Protected Concerted Activities and Social Media

TDU — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:35:14 -0600

December 23, 2011: Throughout 2011, the NLRB's General Counsel increasingly has used its power to issue and prosecute unfair labor practice complaints against employers that have disciplined employ

Taking Aim at Corporate Greed

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:27:31 -0600

January 4, 2012: A year ago, Corporate America unleashed an attack from Wisconsin to Ohio to strip union workers’ rights. Labor has scored a series of victories to start to turn the tide. Can unions and the 99% movement turn up the heat on Wall Street and Corporate Greed?

N.Y. Teamsters, Verizon Workers March for the 99%

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:53:42 -0600

December 2, 2011: New York Teamsters joined union members at Verizon in a rally and march against Corporate Greed in New York City.

Union Leaders March on Bridges, Demand Jobs Bill

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:48:16 -0600

December 2, 2011: Unions organized marches on bridges across the country on Nov. 17 to draw attention to how federal funding to fix ailing infrastructure in the country could put unemployed people back to work.

Teamsters Are the 99%

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:46:26 -0600

December 2, 2011: Greedy Wall Street banks and their risky investment schemes drove the economy over the cliff. The big banks got bailed out. Profits and executive compensation are back to record levels.

But working people, including Teamster members, remain behind the eight ball.

Ohio Voters Veto Union-Busting Law

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:39:05 -0600

December 2, 2011: Anti-union politicians tried to ram through the worst union-busting law in Ohio’s history.

Why Should Teamsters Pay the Price for Wall Street Greed?

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:36:04 -0600

December 9, 2011: When Wall Street greed crashed the stock market in 2008, my pension fund, Central States, lost $9.5 billion. This year, it will have to make $2.2 billion just to tread water.

West Coast Teamsters Fight for the 99%

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:28:55 -0600

December 2, 2011: Teamsters have joined protests in support of the 99% movement up and down the West Coast. In Los Angeles, Teamsters demonstrated at the airport in solidarity with Qantas workers.

Teamsters Take On the 1% at Sotheby’s

TDU — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:26:46 -0600

December 2, 2011: Sotheby’s, the auction house for the super-rich on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, pulled in $680 million last year. That hasn’t stopped management from demanding across-the-board concessions and the replacement of Teamster jobs with part-time, nonunion temp jobs.

Ohio: Big Thumbs Up for Labor

TDU — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:29:39 -0600

November 9, 2011: Yesterday Ohio voters overwhelmingly overturned an anti-labor law aimed at weakening public worker unions, and driving down wage and benefit levels in the state.

Occupy Movement Inspires Unions to Embrace Bold Tactics

TDU — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:16:02 -0600

November 09, 2011: Organized labor’s early flirtation with Occupy Wall Street is starting to get serious.

Three-fifths of all income growth from 1979-2007 went to the top 1%

TDU — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:40:04 -0500

October 28, 2011: Protestors affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement have raised awareness about the degree to which economic rewards in the U.S. are more concentrated in recent decades.

Teamsters Fight for the 99 Percent

TDU — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:05:58 -0500

October 25, 2011: New York Teamsters joined union members at Verizon in a rally and march against Corporate Greed in New York City on Friday, Oct. 21.

Locked-out Teamster Art-handlers Talk About Their Work

TDU — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:15:30 -0500

October 25, 2011: Locked-out Teamster art-handlers talk about their role in the world of high-end art auctions, and how they feel about the work they so artfully handle.

Washington Post: Occupy Wall Street, unions get their activism together

TDU — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:04:07 -0500

October 21, 2011: The Occupy Wall Street protests that began as a nebulous mix of social and economic grievances are becoming more politically organized — with help from some of the country’s largest labor unions.

Locked-out Teamsters Joined by Wall Street Protestors

TDU — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:17:03 -0500

October 19, 2011: Locked-out Teamster art-handlers get support from Jesse Jackson, actress Susan Sarandon, and a bus-load of Occupy Wall Street protestors.

ILWU Arrests – All or None

TDU — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:32:03 -0500

September 19, 2011: In a show of solidarity and apparent disdain over police actions at rough protest last week, the entire membership of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 21 turned themselves in Friday in response to warrants filed against some union members for vandalism.

Take Action Against Captive Labor at Hershey’s

TDU — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:29:19 -0500

September 2, 2011: Students who came from all over the world to learn about the United States instead found themselves working as captives at Hershey’s.

Video: Local 814 President on the Verizon Strike and Sotheby's Lockout

TDU — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:00:55 -0500

August 19, 2011: Watch the video of Teamsters Local 814 President Jason Ide talk about the lockout at Sotheby’s and the strike at Verizon.

Moblike union rule an outdated stereotype

TDU — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:33:12 -0500

August 3, 2011: As the International Brotherhood of Teamsters nominated three candidates for general president at last month’s convention, Sandy Pope’s acceptance speech was noteworthy on several levels.

Labor Notes: Local 814 Members Fight Lockout at Sotheby’s

TDU — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:42:51 -0500

August 1, 2011: Sotheby’s auction house closed its doors Saturday to its 43 unionized art handlers, who are members of Teamsters Local 814.

Labor Notes: FedEx Package Handlers to Vote on Teamsters

TDU — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:29:07 -0500

July 21, 2011: If 55 package handlers at the FedEx Ground warehouse in Brockton, Massachusetts, win the union election scheduled for August 3, it will be the first time ever for package handlers at the giant non-union shipper. They’re facing a fierce anti-union campaign.

Ohio Teamsters Challenge Anti-Union Bill

TDU — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:33:09 -0500

July 15, 2011: This spring politicians passed the worst anti-union law in Ohio history.

In Memoriam: Steve Pocztowski

TDU — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:27:28 -0500

July 15, 2011: Steve Pocztowski, the secretary treasurer of Chicago Local 705, passed away on July 2 in Las Vegas as he prepared to leave the Teamster Convention.

Victor Reuther to Enter Hall of Fame

TDU — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:37:08 -0500

May 4, 2011: Members of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) are proud that the IBT is honoring Victor G. Reuther by hosting his induction ceremony to Labor’s International Hall of Fame on May 17.

How Much Does the CEO of Your Company Make?

TDU — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:41:07 -0500

April 25, 2011: Average CEO compensation skyrocketed to $11.4 million last year. Could this be why they cannot afford to hire workers or pay decent benefits?

Special Report: Executives Fatten Up, but Won't Hire Workers

TDU — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:49:05 -0500

April 11, 2011: A special report in The New York Times details how top corporate executives have dramatically raised their own pay. The report concludes that this wealth has "not trickled down" to hiring more workers.

Stop the War on Workers at UPS

TDU — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:21:43 -0500

April 4, 2011: Local 804 Teamsters rallied in front of UPS in Manhattan today to say NO to the War on Workers from Wisconsin to UPS.

Fair Elections for Airline & Rail Workers

TDU — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:37:37 -0500

March 30, 2011: Imagine an election where all non-voters are counted as “NO” voters. It’s undemocratic, and it would make it extremely hard to get enough “YES” votes to pass anything.

Collective-bargaining bill passes legislature; referendum likely

TDU — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:20:55 -0500

March 31, 2011: A drastic overhaul of Ohio's nearly 30-year-old collective-bargaining law cleared the legislature on Wednesday after nearly two months of contentious hearings, raucous protests and passionate debate.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Good Relations Between Unions, Employers Said to Help EU Weather Economic Crisis

TDU — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:44:37 -0600

March 9, 2011: Good labor relations between employers and trade unions helped the European Union through the economic crisis of 2008-2010, a European Commission report said March 3.

America Stands With Us

TDU — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:44:09 -0600

March 7, 2011: Governors across the country are trying to take away workers’ union rights. But most Americans are siding with the workers.

Thousands protest anti-union bill in Wisconsin

TDU — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:51:49 -0600

February 16, 2011: Thousands of people descended on the Wisconsin state Capitol again Wednesday to protest a bill that would strip most public employees of their collective bargaining rights, but Gov. Scott Walker insisted he has the votes to pass the measure.

BNA Daily Labor Report: GOP Senators Oppose Becker Renomination, Citing NLRB Actions

TDU — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:30:34 -0600

February 8, 2011: All 47 Republicans in the U.S. Senate submitted a letter to President Obama objecting to his renomination of attorney Craig Becker to fill the remainder of a five-year term as a board member ending Dec. 16, 2014, and asking Obama to “respect the will of the Senate” by withdrawing the nomination.

Candlelight March to Save Collective Bargaining to Highlight King Day Celebration

TDU — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:55:59 -0600

January 13, 2011: More than 400 union and civil rights activists will march to Cincinnati’s City Hall Jan. 14 to condemn the plan recently elected Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) has to strip Ohio child care and home health care workers of their right to bargain for a better life.

NY Times: Company Accused of Firing Over Facebook Post

TDU — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:38:28 -0600

November 10, 2010: In what labor officials and lawyers view as a ground-breaking case involving workers and social media, the National Labor Relations Board has accused a company of illegally firing an employee after she criticized her supervisor on her Facebook page.

New Jersey Grocery Teamsters in Protest Strike

TDU — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:12:53 -0500

October 29, 2010: New Jersey Local 863 warehouse and distribution Teamsters are battling to save union jobs.

Dockworkers From Camden Close New York Harbor Ports

TDU — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:49:43 -0500

September 29, 2010: The main cargo ports in New York Harbor were shut down by picketing dockworkers on Tuesday and could be idle again on Wednesday if local longshoremen decide to defy a federal judge.

Medical Marijuana Growers Join with Teamsters

TDU — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:02:01 -0500

September 21, 2010: About 40 medical marijuana industry employees joined with the Teamsters Local 70 in Oakland, California earlier this month, ratifying a contract after their employer recognized their union without interference.

Slate: The United States of Inequality

TDU — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:13:22 -0500

September 13, 2010: The Great Divergence coincided with a dramatic decline in the power of organized labor. Union members now account for about 12 percent of the workforce, down from about 20 percent in 1983. When you exclude public-employee unions (whose membership has been growing), union membership has dropped to a mere 7.5 percent of the private-sector workforce. Did the decline of labor create the income-inequality binge?

New York Honors Ron Carey

TDU — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:58:05 -0500

August 20, 2010: A Teamster hero was honored yesterday when New York City unveiled Ron Carey Avenue.

FedEx Drivers Launch Suit for Reclassification

TDU — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:57:30 -0500

August 19, 2010: The battle over the employment status of drivers at FedEx Ground moved to Massachusetts this week as 31 current and former drivers sued the carrier, alleging improper classification.

Laborers Quit Change to Win, Rejoin AFL-CIO

TDU — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:13:33 -0500

August 17, 2010: The Laborers' International Union is rejoining the AFL-CIO five years after leaving in a bitter dispute that split the U.S. labor movement.

Day of Solidarity in Connecticut

TDU — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:59:37 -0500

August 13, 2010: A convoy of beer trucks with horns blaring and Teamsters drivers flashing the thumbs up would not normally bring a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye.

Half Wages? Bring Out the Rat, Say NY Movers

TDU — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:54:17 -0500

August 6, 2010:The inflatable rat is back, as New York City Teamsters strike to say it’s not fair to pay some movers $16-$22 an hour and others—mostly Black and Latino—just $8.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Report Finds Unions Must Make Changes To Avoid Risk of Losing Young Female Talent

TDU — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:21:17 -0500

July 26, 2010: Unions must begin to make changes now or today's young activists, and their younger colleagues, will abandon the labor movement and pursue social justice in other organizations with more welcoming cultures and values, according to a report released July 16 by the Berger-Marks Foundation.

Labor Notes: How Do We Win Strikes Again?

TDU — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:54:42 -0500

June 11, 2010: Clearly, unions avoid strikes because they fear they can’t win them. How do we break this mold?

Who Says You Can’t Win Big in a Bad Economy?

TDU — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:39:13 -0500

May 13, 2010: By uniting the members and mounting a credible strike threat, Local 814 members in New York City have won a contract that delivers big in a bad economy.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Radical Changes Not Expected At NLRB

TDU — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:10:04 -0500

April 13, 2010: The newly reconstituted National Labor Relations Board under the Obama administration is eager to start resolving cases but is not likely to usher in any “radical” policy changes, NLRB Chairman Wilma B. Liebman said April 12.

Baltimore Local 355 Members Organize for Pension Rights

TDU — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:29:56 -0500

April 9, 2010: Baltimore Teamsters have suffered some of the worst pension cuts in the country.

Sandy Pope Makes Thanksgiving Honor Roll

TDU — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:01:52 -0600

November 25, 2009: Local 805 President and TDU leader Sandy Pope was honored this week as a New York City local hero that makes a difference.

Puerto Rican strikers shut down center of San Juan

TDU — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:33:32 -0500

October 16, 2009: Tens of thousands of Puerto Rican public workers protesting layoffs shut down the center of the capital San Juan on Thursday in a one-day strike that closed many government offices, businesses and schools.

NY Times: Dems Drop Card-Check from Free Choice Act

TDU — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:53:44 -0500

A half-dozen senators friendly to labor have decided to drop a central provision of a bill that would have made it easier to organize workers.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Bakery Must Reinstate Striking Employees

TDU — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:48:42 -0500

July 7, 2009: A Bronx, N.Y., bakery whose 134 employees went on strike in August 2008 must reinstate them under the terms of their expired contract and pay them wages dating back to May 6, 2009

Workers Rally in 20 Cities to Stop Plant Closing

TDU — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:26:35 -0500

June 25, 2009: On Tuesday, workers and community supporters rallied in front of Wells Fargo banks in 20 cities across the country to stop the closing of Quad Cities Die-Casting in Moline, Ill.

Boston Goon Squad Update

TDU — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:45:50 -0500

June 18, 2009: The assault on Local 82 members and their seniority rights continues.

Campaign Against Rival Could Haunt FedEx

TDU — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:11:23 -0500

June 10, 2009: The word bailout has gone from descriptive to derogatory. In a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign introduced Tuesday, FedEx objected to legislation that would make it easier to unionize the company by accusing its rival, United Parcel Service, of taking a government bailout.

Labor Notes: Huge Pension Rally in Toronto

TDU — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:39:04 -0500

May 15, 2009: Step right up to the “Nest Egg Toss” game! On April 23 on the front lawn of the Ontario legislature, workers could toss an egg representing their “nest egg” at painted pictures of nests.

New Bill Would Restore FMLA Protections

TDU — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:21:26 -0500

May 14, 2009: Just four days before George Bush left office, the Department of Labor put new restrictions to the Family and Medical Leave Act into effect.

President Obama's NLRB Appointments

TDU — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:00:53 -0500

April 27, 2009: The President has announced his intention to nominate two Members of the National Labor Relations Board.

Tell Labor Secretary Solis to Protect Whistleblowers

TDU — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:05:00 -0500

April 27, 2009: Attorney Paul Taylor of the Truckers’ Justice Center says that it is time to replace the appointees to the Administrative Review Board (ARB), and that Labor Secretary Hilda Solís should act quickly. You can help make it happen.

Congress Considers the Employee Free Choice Act

TDU — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:04:58 -0500

March 11, 2009: Yesterday, lawmakers in both houses of Congress introduced a new law that will make it easier for workers to form unions. You can help pass it.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Judge Dismisses Suit Against Organizing Drive at Cintas

TDU — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:35:33 -0500

March 11, 2009: A federal judge in New York March 9 dismissed Cintas Corp.'s racketeering and trademark infringement claims against UNITE HERE, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and their

BNA Daily Labor Report: AFL-CIO Approves More Unity Talks with Change to Win, NEA

TDU — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:27:56 -0600

March 5, 2009: The AFL-CIO Executive Council March 4 authorized AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney and some members of the smaller AFL-CIO Executive Committee to continue discussions with the unions of Change to Win and the National Education Association to attempt to unify the labor movement.

Chicago Workers on Tour after Factory Occupation

TDU — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:00:38 -0600

February 10, 2009: The Chicago window and door workers who took over their factory and inspired workers across the United States are on tour to tell their story.

BNA Daily Labor Report: Giant Rat Is Free Speech

TDU — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:18:26 -0600

February 9, 2009: A Lawrence Township, N.J., ordinance that was applied to prohibit a union from displaying a 10-foot tall balloon in the shape of a rat as part of a labor protest on a public side

Viewpoint: Reunifying the Labor Movement

TDU — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:50:54 -0600

January 30, 2009: Four years ago, U.S. unions split into two federations. Now they’re talking about getting back together.

Solis Deflects Questions On Card-Check, Right-to-Work

TDU — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:16:01 -0600

January 21, 2009: Secretary of Labor-designate Rep.

Martin Luther King on Workers' Rights

TDU — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:25:41 -0600

Martin Luther King was a powerful advocate for unions and workers rights. See his last speech to striking sanitation workers and read what he had to say about workers' rights.

How the Employee Free Choice Act Would Help Our Union Organize

TDU — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:22:12 -0600

January 20, 2009: Workers who try to join our union get threatened and sometimes even fired by employers who want to stay union-free.

New York Times: Labor Calls for Unity After Years of Division

TDU — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:54:03 -0600

January 8, 2008: The presidents of 12 of the nation’s largest labor unions called Wednesday for reuniting the American labor movement, which split apart three and a half years ago when seven unio

New York Times: The Labor Agenda

TDU — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:08 -0600

January 6, 2009: There is no doubt that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a labor secretary who could be a transformative force in a long-neglected arena.

San Francisco Chronicle: Happy Holidays for Laundry Workers—Back Wages

TDU — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:25:54 -0600

December 19, 2008: Five years after filing suit against her employer for failing to pay wages mandated by Hayward's living wage law, a former laundry worker in San Leandro opened an envelope Th

Hard-Fought Victory at Smithfield Comes at Last

TDU — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:57:40 -0600

December 12, 2008: A long fight at the world’s largest pork processing plant has come to an end, as workers at the Smithfield Tar Heel plant voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Victorious Workers at Republic End Sit-In

TDU — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:39:39 -0600

December 11, 2008: Workers at the Republic Windows and Doors factory in Chicago ended their week-long occupation last night, chanting "we did it!" as they left the plant.