Make UPS Deliver on Surepost Promises
June 20, 2014: How to document violations and make Hoffa-Hall and UPS deliver on their SurePost promises. The new contract includes restrictions on SurePost that are supposed to mean fewer packages diverted to the Post Office and more fulltime Teamster driving jobs. So far, drivers report a different story. “I deliver to the Post Office on my route,” said Michigan Local 243 Teamster Marty Labut. “I still see SurePost packages on dead-end streets where...
NLRB Tells UPS: Hands Off Teamster Voice
June 13, 2014: Tom Glidden, a UPS driver at the Maple Grove, Minn. UPS facility, has passed out Teamster Voice for years. He does it in the parking lot before and after work and leaves a few copies in break areas. UPS management told him to stop. Now the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has directed management to back off and respect the rights of Teamster members. In May 2013 Tom’s supervisor told...
Got Union: New York Dairy Teamsters Taking Back Their Local
June 13, 2014: A group of rank-and-file reformers, Local 584 Members First, are organizing to empower members, defend their jobs, and take back their union. Dairy Teamsters in Local 584 have had a rough go of it. A change in state law has allowed nonunion competitors to flood the New York City milk market. Aside from the nonunion competition, the big winner in this has been Elmhurst Dairy. Local 584 officials gave concessions to...
Teamster Viewpoint: International VP Cost 166 Teamsters Their Jobs
June 13, 2014: International vice president Bill Hamilton has apparently cost up to 166 Philadelphia Teamsters their jobs, good paying jobs at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC). Six labor unions were employed there. The Teamsters can no longer count themselves among them. Was it because of tough negotiating, or a refusal to take concessions? No! Bill Hamilton has never had an issue capitulating to management. We need to look no further than his coercive...
Chicago TDU Members Meet With Supporters
June 13, 2014: The Chicago TDU Chapter hosted a discussion and fundraiser for TRF (TDU’s nonprofit educational sister organization) on May 17 with Ken Paff, TDU’s National Organizer. The event drew TDU members, supporters of Teamster reform, and allies from other unions and netted $2,600 for TRF. “We had a good discussion on where our movement is headed and it was great to see the support and interest from members from other unions and organizations...
New York TDU Chapter Bowls for Teamster Reform
June 13, 2014: The NY Chapter raised more than $6,000 at a Bowl-athon in May. Members sold raffle tickets to help pay a $500 team-entrance fee and team captains recruited more than 60 bowlers. “Members really got into the Bowl-a-thon,” says TDU member and Local 814 organizer Julian Tysh, who helped organize the event. “It was a fun way to build some solidarity and get to know one another better. We’re going to make it...
Central States Big Wig Calls for 30% Benefit Cut
June 13, 2014: Al Nelson, the Benefits Services Director of the Central States Pension Fund, told Minneapolis Teamsters that he favors a 30 percent across-the-board benefit cut for every current retiree and every active Teamster in the fund. Nelson announced this position at a Local 120 meeting on June 6, where he was giving a report on the Central States Pension Fund. He elaborated that if the 30 percent cut is not made, the situation...
Sign the Petition to Protect Our Pensions
June 13, 2014: The Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has called for reforms that would help secure union members pensions. Josh Gotbaum, the Director of the PBGC, is calling for a major increase in insurance premiums paid by pension funds to provide more security to pension funds that cover Teamsters and other union members. Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) supports this proposal and urges its adoption. You can help...
Take Back Our Union Meetings
Members are holding Take Back Our Union meetings in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Western Pennsylvania to reach out to concerned Teamsters and organize for change. Teamster are tired of Hoffa, Hall and contract concessions. Members have launched Take Back Our Union to organize for change. UPS, UPS Freight and freight Teamsters are leading the effort to reach out to Teamsters in all industries Take Back Our Union meetings are being organized for next weekend. Invited...
IBT Election Timeline
Summer-Fall 2014 Take Back Our Union forms to unite Teamster members who oppose concessions and want to rebuild Teamster Power by electing new International Union leadership in 2016. November 7-9, 2014 Campaign Summit: Special training held at TDU Convention for members who want to learn how to run for delegate, build a local campaign committee, and be an active part of a national campaign. Early 2015 The Election Supervisor will be appointed to oversee...