December 2, 2013: The Central States Pension Fund had $17.8 billion in assets as of June 30, 2013, which is the same amount it had at the start of the year. The pension fund made $1.1 billion on its investments, a 6.5% rate of return in the six-month period. The high rate was due to the run-up of the stock market during the first quarter. The fund took in $332 million in employer contributions, and...

TDU wishes you and your family a good Thanksgiving. We're thankful you're a part of this movement for dignity on the job and a stronger, more democratic union.

UPDATED November 27, 2013: The Freight Division has scheduled a two-man meeting for December 6 in Dallas to review proposals made by YRC to extend the current MOU. All locals representing YRC Teamsters have been asked to send representatives for the meeting. On November 20-21, YRC negotiators presented proposals to the Teamsters Freight Division for a five-year contract extension. While they are not proposing any wage cuts, they are asking for other concessions. Reports indicate...

November 25, 2013: Walmart workers and their supporters are planning to kick off this year's holiday shopping season with protests at 1,500 Walmart stores around the country on Black Friday.  Last year, 30,000 supporters participated in Black Friday actions at Walmart and workers walked off the job in 46 states, according to OUR Walmart, the union-backed group that is organizing the actions.  This year, Our Walmart is hoping for even more supporters to turn out....

Updated December 2, 2013: Teamster mechanics who are without a contract picketed on November 25 at airports from throughout the country to demand an end to concessions and a contract. They were joined by AFA flight attendants who are also facing difficulties in their negotiations. Mechanics and Flight Attendants along with other workers have taken major concessions in previous negotiations in the last 10 years and they believe that they need to get gains as...

November 21, 2013: Growing opposition to a proposal to allow multi-employer pension plans to slash already-earned benefits has forced a delay in its introduction into Congress. That opposition needs to grow stronger, into a grassroots movement to save our pensions and develop a positive alternative plan to the cuts. A bill was scheduled to be introduced in the US House of Representatives over a month ago to allow "deeply troubled" pension funds—such as the Central...

November 19, 2013: After leaving UPSers in the dark for months, Teamster officials are working overtime to sell a weak contract that would mean smaller pensions for UPSers in the Southwest. The company’s offer is not good enough to sell itself. So Teamster officials have become full-time contract pitchmen. In Los Angeles, Local 396 business agents are even visiting hubs in the middle of night. They have never worked overtime like that to represent members. ...

Updated November 19, 2013: Talks have begun between YRC and the IBT Freight Division over a five year extension of the contract. Tyson Johnson held a conference call for local union officials today to report on the initial sessions. Johnson said that no specific demands have been made by either side and that YRC is not asking for additional wage or benefit concessions, but wants more “flexibility.” When questioned on specifics, he said those would...

November 8, 2013: YRC CEO James Welch presented his case to Teamster local officers three days ago for a five-year contract extension, in order to secure new financing. It was not an easy sell. A number of officers at the meeting in Dallas asked tough questions, on everything from the botched idea to buy ABF to what else YRC will be asking for. Welch declined to specify anything else the company would request in bargaining,...

November 6, 2013: If you are a UPS Teamster moving into the new health plan in the West, millions of dollars will be diverted from your pension fund to maintain the health benefits you already have. On November 13, the IBT will mail out ballots to UPS Teamsters covered by the Western Region Supplement and the Local 177 Supplement. The sales pitch will be the health benefits improvements which were won thanks to the overwhelming...