Why TDU Backs Teamsters United

The Teamsters United team has shown in action that they are committed to making the changes our union needs.

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For 40 years, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) has been the network of Teamsters working together to make our union strong and democratic. We’ve had victories and defeats, we’ve continued to grow, and we work to bring out the best in the Teamsters Union.

We believe our union is at a crossroads after 17 years of the Hoffa administration. Look at the Hoffa record.  

  • Our national contracts are weakened or broken. Our grievance panels are company dominated.
  • Our pension funds—strong when he took office—are in grave danger.
  • Our organizing program aims for the easiest wins—not building Teamster power.
  • Our members—our best resource—are demoralized and detached from our union.
  • Our efforts to clean up our union are frustrated by Hoffa’s reliance on corrupt power brokers.

But opposing Hoffa is not enough to earn the endorsement of TDU. We are all about a positive program for building Teamster Power.

Why We Back Teamsters United

Teamsters United is led by Fred Zuckerman, who has never been a TDU member, but is a leader who has earned our respect with his stands and his actions in support of Teamster members. Teamsters United is also a diverse team of experienced national leaders, local leaders and new leaders, from all sectors of our union and representing various views.

We need a leadership that can make big changes. A leadership that:

  • mobilizes and informs members, instead of fearing members.
  • has a strategy to win—building and re-building national contracts and national support for local struggles.
  • unites members and locals, instead of silencing dissent.
  • has a plan to build Teamster Power through strategic organizing.
  • involves all Teamsters, including younger Teamsters, retirees, minorities, and women, and promotes new leadership at all levels.
  • defends all Teamster pensions, organizes new members into our pension plans, and uses Teamster political clout to win retirement security.
  • respects Teamster democracy incontract votes and union elections, and that roots out corruption instead of rewarding corrupt power brokers.

The Teamsters United team has shown in action that they are committed to these changes.


Related Articles

Fred Zuckerman Statement on the IBT Election

[Re-posted from Teamsters United]

As the ballots were tallied this week, we shocked the employers and the Hoffa-Hall slate and won the majority of the vote from Teamsters in the United States. Hoffa-Hall overtook our lead when the Teamsters Canada ballots were counted.

Teamster Election Update

Fred Zuckerman has won the majority of the vote cast by Teamsters in the U.S. The votes from Teamsters Canada are now being counted and they will determine the election. Follow the local-by-local returns from Teamsters Canada as the race comes down to the wire. 

Corruption, Obstruction & the IBT Election

When Hoffa-Hall’s top lieutenant in the West Rome Aloise was charged with racketeering, they used members’ dues money to cover up the corruption, obstruct investigators and crack down on members’ right to vote. Now, the results of the International Union election may hang in the balance.

Teamsters United Sweeps the Central

Fred Zuckerman has overtaken Hoffa based on the overwhelming win in the Central Region where Teamsters United won with over 58% of the vote. The vote count has resumed and the ballots are being counted in the Western Region. Follow local-by-local results for the West here. Over 50,000 ballots remain to be counted. This race is a nail-biter and we have a long way to go. 

How Hoffa-Hall Tried to Steal the Vote in the South

Hoffa-Hall tried to steal the election in the South before it happened. They even rigged elections to get their way. How grassroots organizing saved the right to vote and paved the way for the Teamsters United victory in the South.

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