May 29, 2013: The IBT has sent out a mailing listing every local officer by name that was at the two-person meeting in Washington, claiming they "unanimously approve" of the contract. The list includes officers who are urging a No Vote and even lists the officers from Louisville Local 89 whose website includes a long explanation about why members should vote no. The "unanimous support" lie is especially outrageous at UPS Freight where many local...

May 29, 2013: UPS is offering Teamsters in Louisville Local 89 a bribe. Vote Yes and get a $1,000 check! The Louisville Air Rider Bargaining Committee is demanding pay for all time worked, more full-time jobs and job protections. UPS ducked these demands by going behind the back of the Local 89 bargaining committee and getting Hall and Hoffa to mail out its "final offer." Local 89 is recommending a No Vote on the contract...

May 29, 2013: To gear up for their 2013 convention the AFL-CIO has started a discussion forum to talk about the future of the labor movement. Each week a new moderator, from labor journalists, professors, directors of community organizations and worker centers, and more, helps facilitate. Join the conversation at "Let's Talk".

As many Teamsters enjoy a long weekend with family and friends, all of us honor those who have fallen in wartime.

May 24, 2013: The weak contracts at UPS and UPS Freight affect every Teamster. After hauling in almost $4.5 billion in profits last year, UPS management has reaped another windfall: contract givebacks. The weak contract deals affect every Teamster—not just the 250,000 members employed at UPS and UPS Freight. How can Teamsters who work at struggling employers expect to win good contracts and defend our benfits when the International Union is rolling over and making...

May 24, 2013: Do you have a story to share or an opinion to express? We want to hear from you. Send us a letter by email to letters [at] tdu.org or by mail to P.O. Box 10128, Detroit, MI 48210. Stand Together We absolutely need to stand together and vote no. The attempt to get a good contract that was apparently voted in favor of unanimously by our Teamster officials is baffling. We need...

May 24, 2013: Teamsters around the country report the proposed UPS Freight contract fails to measure up. It doesn't even measure up to the first contract—one they found sorely lacking over the last five years. The wage increase is $2.50 over five years—$1.50 less than the previous contract. The health insurance plan is modified and members are still expected to pay a premium. The current pension plan is frozen and a new version has been...

May 24, 2013: For the first time in 49 years, there is no national master freight agreement. There is an agreement with YRCW, and tentative agreements going to members at ABF and UPS Freight. Separate agreements for some 40,000 freight Teamsters, and none could possibly be considered a model contract. Hoffa came into office on the slogan "The Hoffa name means power." His father's big accomplishment was the NMFA. Now he's been busy at his...

May 24, 2013: Ballots will be mailed to members in early June. The union's brochure makes the case that concessions are needed for the health of the company. ABF management circulated an internal memo "for proactive, verbal use with Teamsters employees...if you vote no, the likelihood that YRC will consummate a deal grows higher." So threats are being used too. Key changes in the proposed Tentative Agreement include: Immediate 7 percent wage reduction.  2 percent...

May 24, 2013: YRCW board member Harry Wilson is getting paid $250,000 per month, since February 2013, and may get a lot more. Wilson was appointed to the YRCW Board by the Teamsters Union leadership. We've all heard the expression "follow the money." This information is tucked away in a February YRCW filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing states that, "On Feb. 20, 2013, we entered into an Advisory Agreement with MAEVA...