January 8, 2015: A new leadership team took office in Rhode Island Teamster Local 251 last year after members organized a grassroots movement for change.     Now 2,500 Local 251 members who work at Rhode Island Hospital are taking that grassroots approach to the bargaining table in a campaign to win a fair contract.   Their contract demands include wage increases, better retirement benefits, and job security.   Union contract proposals address problems that undermine working conditions and patient care at the same time,...

January 8, 2015: Hoffa administration VP Rome Aloise told Teamsters to cross the picket line. But Waste Management workers won a strike that will raise their pay from $12.50 to $20 an hour. 

January 8, 2015: Congress approved pension cut legislation in a sneak attack amendment to the budget bill. The fight to protect Teamster pensions is on. Teamsters and retirees are joining the Pension Justice Campaign.   Congress approved pension cut legislation in a sneak attack amendment to the budget bill.   The legislation guts federal pension protections and paves the way for pension cuts in the Central States Pension Fund and very possibly some other Teamster funds.   For 30 years, the anti-cutback rule has made it...

January 9, 2015: Reckless Wall Street schemes tanked the economy and Teamster pension funds. Now Teamsters and retiree advocates are coming together to hold Wall Street accountable and take on pension cuts.   Congress attached to the end-ofyear spending bill a measure that undid 30 years of pension protections. More than one million workers, retirees and their families could see historic pension cuts over the next year or two.   This has sent shock waves across the USA.   The largest affected group is the 300,000...

January 8, 2015: Working Teamsters were hammered with concessions in 2014. Teamster leaders who showed how to fight for good contracts are building a coalition for change.   Teamster leaders who stood up for Teamster contracts and pensions in 2014 are helping to build a coalition for change in 2016.   Local 804 President Tim Sylvester united UPS Teamsters in New York City to win pension increases, grievance procedure reform, and 150 new full-time jobs.    “Other Teamsters were taking givebacks. But Tim showed us we can fight...

January 8, 2015: The Vote No movement showed that a majority of Teamsters in key industries oppose Hoffa-Hall's concessions. But are we ready to get to work to elect new Teamster leadership?   Working Teamsters organized an unprecedented Vote No movement against contract concessions and benefit cuts last year.   Teamsters can have new leadership and a new direction in our union. But it won’t be easy or automatic.   Hoffa has a built-in campaign organization. He has a huge payroll with over 100...

February 6, 2015: Teamster members will vote for International Union officers in 2016.  But the election process starts now.       Find out the election timeline and how TDU helps Teamster members  organize to win.   Click here to get involved if you want to see change in 2016.   Election Rules and the Election Supervisor  Early 2015   The International Union election is run by an  independent Election Officer under fair rules— a...

January 8, 2015: While other Teamsters were taking concessions, UPS Teamsters in New York Local 804 won a $400 pension increase, 150 new full-time jobs and grievance procedure reform. Local 804 President Tim Sylvester explained how they did it in a speech to the Labor Notes conference of union leaders and activists.   “When the International Union makes givebacks to UPS, they are sending a message to every employer—that the concessions stand is open in the Teamsters Union. We decided to send a...

January 8, 2015: The lame duck Congress attached pension cut legislation to the end-of-year spending bill that will pave the way for the worst pension cuts in Teamster history. Leave it to UPS to find a way to make billions off this disaster.   UPS lobbyists fought for and won a special interest loophole that shifts $2 billion in the company’s pension responsibilities onto the backs of Teamster retirees in the Central States.   These retirees will now face even bigger pension cuts as...

January 8, 2015: UPS Teamsters have the numbers and the network to make the difference in the International Union election. There are 250,000 UPS Teamsters. It takes 200,000 votes to elect new leadership in the International Union. Of course, not all UPS Teamsters are going to vote. But if even 40 percent of them vote, that’s half of the 200,000 votes needed to win. In the last International Union election, Hoffa carried the UPS vote in many locals. Many UPS Teamsters opposed Hoffa but the opposition vote was divided....