Teamster members founded TDU in 1976 to organize for a more democratic and militant union. Over the last 50 years, we have won reforms to the Teamster Constitution that build union power by strengthening members' rights. Here's how.
1976: Standing Up to Corruption
At the 1976 IBT Convention, TDU had just one delegate. Pete Camarata hailed from Detroit Local 299, the home local of Jimmy Hoffa. Camarata took the mic to record one vote against Frank Fitzsimmons for General President “in the name of a friend who I haven’t seen in a year.” Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in 1975. Camarata was beaten unconscious by goons in retaliation.
1981: TDU Proposes Reforms
Roy Williams was elected General President at the 1981 Convention despite being indicted just days prior for conspiring to bribe a U.S. Senator. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1983, but his term was reduced in exchange for testifying against organized crime figures and admitting his own involvement.
TDU proposed amendments to the Teamster Constitution to establish one-member, one vote elections for International Union officers. Speaking from the floor, TDU co-chair Diana Kilmury proposed that the IBT create an Ethical Practices Committee to root out corruption. Both reforms were rejected.
1986: Fighting for the Right to Vote
TDU launched a drive to win the Right to Vote for IBT officers in one-member, one vote elections. At this time, IBT officers were elected by Convention Delegates, not the members. Teamster members delivered over a hundred thousand petition signatures to the 1986 IBT Convention. Sam Theodus, the President of Local 407, ran for General President in a symbolic campaign against Jackie Presser. TDU’s campaign succeeded in 1989 when the settlement of a racketeering lawsuit against the IBT established the Right to Vote.
1991: TDU’s Bill of Rights
By 1991, TDU was winning our “Rank-and-File Bill of Rights.” The 1991 Convention was the first time in decades that all delegates were all elected. Previously local officers served as 90% of the delegates. TDU jumped into Convention Delegate election campaigns. By the end of the 1991 Convention, we had won:
- The Right to Vote for IBT officers
- The right to elect all delegates
- Lowering millionaire salaries for top Teamster officials
- The right to majority rule on contracts
- The right to vote on supplements to national contracts in a separate vote
At that 1991 Convention, Ron Carey was nominated for IBT President. The Carey slate swept the International Union election that November.
1996: Hoffa Grinds Reforms to a Halt
The 1996 Teamster Convention was disrupted by supporters of James Hoffa who shouted down the Convention, even booing the pledge of allegiance and the moment of silence for deceased Teamsters.
2001-2011: Protecting Teamster Democracy
James Hoffa Jr took office in 1999. The next two decades featured contract concessions, pension cuts, and a resurgence of corruption. TDU kept Teamster democracy alive by supporting reform candidates Tom Leedham and Sandy Pope. While we could not beat Hoffa, we won considerable support and consistently carried the majority in about 100 locals, where TDU was active. TDU showed that our movement was in it for the long haul.
2016: A Turning Point
At the 2016 Teamster Convention, TDU backed Fred Zuckerman for General President and the Teamsters United slate. Over 90% of Convention Delegates supported Hoffa. But when members’ votes were counted in the fall election, Zuckerman won 49% of the vote and Teamsters United carried the Central and Southern Regions. The majority of members in every national contract voted for Teamsters United, including: UPS, freight, carhaul, and rail. Members wanted new leadership and a new direction.
2021: Convention Passes New Reforms
In 2018 Fred Zuckerman and Sean O’Brien joined forces. They worked together, along with TDU, to fight givebacks in the UPS contract. After 18 months of debate and efforts to build unity in action, TDU members voted to join the O’Brien-Zuckerman Teamsters United coalition at the 2019 TDU Convention.
At the 2021 IBT convention the OZ Teamsters United slate and the Hoffa-backed Teamster Power slate were nominated. Teamsters United strengthened members’ rights in the Teamster Constitution, including requiring rank-and-file members on all bargaining committees, and making strike benefits payable starting on day one of any strike. We guaranteed majority rule on contracts, and the right to vote separately on contract supplements, by closing loopholes in the Constitution that the Hoffa administration had used to impose contracts in 2013 and 2018.