Annual $150,000 Club Report
Teamster Perks or Teamster Power? Hoffa and Ken Hall have spent much of this year telling Teamsters to take concessions. How do you think they're doing? A lot of Teamsters have had to tighten their belts over the past few years. Hundreds of thousands have just been told by James Hoffa and Ken Hall that concessions in healthcare or pensions or wages are necessary. But one group of Teamsters has not felt any belt-tightening at...
Hoffa and Hall Walk Away From UPS Freight Teamsters
New York Local 707 UPS Freight Teamsters October 17, 2013: UPS Freight Teamsters wonder what happened to their union. They've heard next to nothing since they rejected the proposed contract in June with a 69 percent No vote. Four months of silence. It's clear that Hoffa and Hall have no plan for winning significant contract improvements. So where does that leave Teamsters working at UPS Freight? We can still win a good contract if we...
Hoffa to Freight Teamsters: Quit Bothering Me
October 17, 2013: ABF Teamsters in the Central Region are voting on authorizing a strike, but it's a phony proposition. The International union has not put forth any issues or demands to strike for! Instead, Hoffa and the Freight Division have simply denounced the Central Region members for voting No twice, and tried to divide other freight Teamsters against them. The votes will be counted on October 29. The International union and ABF management plan...
Will Congress Pass a Bill to Allow Pension Cuts?
Not if We Stop It! UPDATED October 23, 2013: A Congressional hearing will be held to address pension issues Tuesday, October 29. We expect a bill to hit Congress very soon which would allow "deeply troubled" pension funds—such as the Central States Fund—to slash the pension benefits of retirees and those soon to retire. We're out to stop this train wreck for Teamsters and other workers who worked long and hard to earn their pensions....
Teamsters Turn Out For Education and Building TDU
October 17, 2013: More than 100 members from industries across New York City and beyond came out for a day of workshops and strategic planning. The Building Teamster Power Conference on September 15 was the second day-long conference organized by the NY-NJ TDU Chapter this year. It brought together UPS members, bus workers, public sector workers, commercial movers, grocery and freight Teamsters. Workshops focused on getting members involved, the UPS contract, legal rights, and grievance...
How to Present a Grievance to Management
The Grievance Meeting:How to Present a Grievance to Management November 7, 2013: The first stages of filing a grievance can be the most important, no matter what kind of grievance procedure your contract contains. This is the point at which information is gathered and arguments are tested. It is the time when membership involvement and pressure can make the most difference. And this is also the point at which mistakes can be avoided. This article...
Teamster Women On the Move
October 17, 2013: The IBT Annual Women's Conference was held in New Orleans on September 19-21. Women Teamsters from all over the U.S. and Canada, and different Teamster industries—from UPSers and truck drivers to warehouse workers and public workers—got the chance to meet one another, share experiences and form friendships. Seminars included "Be the Arbitrator" where members go through different grievance scenarios from beginning to end as seen from the arbitrator’s point of view, shop...
UPS: $600 per Vote?
October 10, 2013: The Round Two vote count in the Central Region is coming to the end, and the supplement has narrowly passed by 53.6%: 11,599 to 10,006. The Yes Votes from Teamsters in Minnesota and Wisconsin put the Yes side over the top. UPS full-timers in those states do not face healthcare cuts they are covered by separate union plans. Click here for complete local-by-local results. Hoffa and Hall launched a million-dollar PR campaign...
UPS: Louisville Says 'Hell No'
UPDATED 3:40 p.m. October 10, 2013: The Round Two vote count continues on the Central Region Supplement. The largest UPS unit in the country, Louisville Local 89, has voted No by 3580 to 488. Local 89’s elected leadership and stewards organized for a big No vote, and the members have backed that stand by a landslide margin. The count moves on to locals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, and other Midwest states. They may work...
UPS: Ohio Rider Rejected
UPDATED 1:30 p.m. October 10, 2013: The Round Two vote count continues on the Central Region Supplement. The three other supplements being voted – New York Local 804, Philadelphia Local 623, and Metro Philadelphia Area – have now been counted. The Ohio Rider was rejected by 2189 to 1805, with strong No votes from Dayton, Lima, Zanesville, Columbus and Cincinnati. Of the larger locals only Cleveland Local 407 delivered a big Yes majority; Local 407...