January 30, 2014: While UPS and UPS Freight Teamsters take concessions, the profit haul for the company continues. UPS reported fourth-quarter profits of $1.2 billion and says profits will top $5 billion in 2014. The media is full of sympathetic stories about how UPS profits are, “falling short of expectations.” And it’s true that UPS’s fourth quarter profits were lower than originally expected because of the much-publicized problems at peak. But before you pull out...

January 30, 2014: Corporate lobbyists are stepping up efforts to “fast-track” the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, as unionists and environmental groups push back in opposition. The TPP is being negotiated in secret, with direct input from trans-global corporations seeking to undermine labor and environmental protections. Read what the TPP is about: Warnings from NAFTA The IBT is asking Teamsters to ask members of Congress to oppose fast track.

January 28, 2014: Teamster officials in San Diego, including a Hoffa appointee, face embezzlement charges from the Independent Review Board (IRB).  The Independent Review Board (IRB) has charged the current and past officials of San Diego Local 36 with embezzlement of union funds, and recommended trusteeship of the local. The charged officials include Art Cantu, a long-time Hoffa International Representative, who resigned last March after a member blew the whistle on the embezzlement scheme. Hoffa...

January 28, 2014: TDU and workers everywhere lost a friend with yesterday’s passing of Pete Seeger, the legendary folk singer and social activist. Seeger, who died yesterday at the age of 94, was a role model for putting his principles into action. He stood up to McCarthyism, supported the Civil Rights movement, worked to clean up the Hudson River and was a strong supporter of unions and workers’ rights. Throughout his life, Seeger lent his...

January 27, 2014: The voting results are in and the YRC concessions will be extended through 2019. Join YRC Teamsters who are taking aim at 2016 and the chance to vote out the Hoffa administration and take back our union.  Teamster members approved the YRCW “Plan B” contract extension by a vote of 12,267 to 6,314 in local union voting over the weekend. Hoffa and Hall immediately hailed it as “saving 30,000 jobs.” The vote...

Western Pennsylvania Supplement Local City National Agreement Supplment June Supplement January     Yes No Yes No Yes No 30 Jeanette, Pa. 91 646 96 642 132 557 110 Ebensburg, pa. 45 131 51 125 109 83 249 Pittsburgh 30 432 30 432 67 346 261 New Castle, Pa. 9 84 9 84 19 67 397 Erie, Pa. 15 65 16 64 42 42 491 Uniontown, Pa. 5 22 6 21 17 18 538 Worthington,...

January 24, 2014: Western Pennsylvania UPS Teamsters have again overwhelmingly rejected their contract supplement by a 3-1 margin. Ken Hall and the IBT tried to bully the members by saying they will never bargain anything better, but determined rank and file Teamsters are sticking together in solidarity. The local-by-local count is available here. Members are angry over reduced health care benefits through TeamCare, and to inadequate changes in the Wester Pa Supplement. Western Pa joins...

UPDATED January 22, 2014. 4:00 p.m. The International Union has just issued new Rules for contract voting by 26,000 YRCW Teamsters. The changes 1) are to allow Friday voting in a sealed envelope for drivers subject to dispatch who will not be back to their home local to vote on the weekend; and 2) clarify that anyone on layoff, but who has worked in the past three years, may vote, even if they are on...

January 18, 2014.  YRC Teamsters will be voting once again on a contract extension, this time in union halls on January 25-26.  The proposal, reportedly toned down from the initial “wish-list” proposal by YRC, was negotiated with the IBT. We will publish the full proposal and other information as soon as it is available. The “two man” meeting of local officers to see the proposal will be Tuesday, January 21. Ken Hall had a long...

January 16, 2014.  YRCW CEO James Welch now says that the company will “revise its proposal” for a contract extension, to work with the Teamsters and with their lenders to enable the company to re-finance its debt. In a statement issued today. Welch admitted that “re-voting the same proposal is not an option.” Teamsters at YRCW clearly gave Welch that information with the overwhelming rejection of the company’s first extension proposal. Welch now plans to...