September 17, 2013: Jack Cooper Transport has won the bid to purchase Allied Systems, and will now be by far the largest carhaul operator in North America. Cooper CEO Mike Riggs says the combined carrier will have $1 billion in revenue in 2014.  Cooper will pay $135 million – with borrowed money – for Allied, and the deal was approved by the creditors committee overseeing Allied's bankruptcy, with the approval of the Teamsters International Union. This...

September 13, 2013: Momentum is growing to Vote No Again on the UPS Supplements in the Central Region, Philadelphia, Western Pa. and Metro Philadelphia, where all full-time and part-time UPSers are being moved into TeamCare. Contract ratification ballots will be mailed out on Sept. 18 in these supplements. Members in New Jersey Local 177 and the Western Region  are still awaiting the details on their proposed healthcare plan and contract voting timeline. In New York...

September 12, 2013: UPS Teamsters who are in the same health plan should get the same coverage. But that won't happen if Hoffa-Hall get their way with the current Central Region UPS proposal.  Under the new TeamCare proposal, full-time UPS Teamsters who are already in TeamCare will get substandard benefits compared to UPS Teamsters who are being moved into TeamCare. The Company is contributing the same amount of money per week to Central States for...

September 12, 2013: The latest financial report (first quarter 2013) for the Central States Pension Fund is now available, and reflects assets of $18.3 billion as of March 31, 2013. This represents a $517 million gain in the first quarter, due to the big run-up in the stock market during that period. Since that time, the stock market leveled off, and bonds have done poorly, so the current balance is certainly lower. The fund relies...

September 6, 2013: Hoffa-Hall have launched a PR offensive to try to pass the rejected supplements in the Central Region and Pennsylvania. Ballots will be mailed Sept. 18 and counted Oct. 9 for a number of rejected supplements, including: the Central Region, Ohio Rider, Michigan Rider, Local 243 Rider, Metro Philly Supplement, Local 623 Supplement, and Western Pennsylvania Supplement. Western locals and New Jersey Local 177 have also reached an agreement with UPS on their...

September 6, 2013: Ken Hall says "confusion over healthcare" caused members to Vote No and reject a record number of UPS contract supplements. What exactly does Hall think members were confused about?  Members voted No to stop healthcare cuts and fight to protect their benefits. Hall made his statement on a conference call on Thursday night with shop stewards, saying, "I understand your supplements were voted down because of 'confusion about healthcare.'" Hall claimed they...

September 6, 2013: Pension increases are on the line as contract talks continue in New York Local 804. Local 804 members won a $400 pension increase in the new contract, with a $300 increase scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1—but pension trustees from UPS agreed to vote for these increases only after the supplement is ratified. Under the Pension Protection Act, Local 804 members needs to ratify a contract by early October or the...

September 4, 2013: The Vote No movement has reversed healthcare cuts and won better benefits. Remember when they said your healthcare benefits were negotiated in the national contract and could not be improved? Members have proven them wrong. Ken Hall and TeamCare representatives unveiled new and improved TeamCare coverage at a national meeting of Teamster officers today in Chicago. After repeatedly telling members that healthcare was a done deal, Hall reversed himself, improved the benefits...

August 30, 2013: Labor activists got an early start on Labor Day weekend this year—from fast food strikers to Teamsters standing up to contract givebacks. Fast-food workers launched a one-day national strike to demand a living wage and the right for form unions. This as the largest Fast Food strike in U.S. history We celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom and union members and community organizations marched on Washington again...

August 30, 2013: We're celebrating Labor Day weekend with 25% off TDU memberships. Join the group that gives Teamsters reliable news on our contracts and union, and helps members unite against givebacks. This Labor Day Weekend only, a one-year TDU membership is just $30. A three-year membership is just $75. Already a member, register online for the TDU Convention and get $25 off your Convention registration. Join TDU for 25% off. Offer expires after Labor...