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...

UPDATED August 30, 2013: Top Teamster officials want UPSers to give up, go home and cry in their beer. They say there's nothing members can do to stop healthcare cuts. Teamster officials are starting to send out notices to UPSers that say, "Effective January 1, 2014, you will no longer be covered by the Company insurance benefits but will be covered by the Central States Health and Welfare Fund TeamCare." They say there's no point...

August 29, 2013: Western UPS Teamsters, who rejected UPS's first offer two months ago, are uniting to put forward reasonable demands for the Western Supplement and Southwest Rider. Click here to get a leaflet on those proposals. Copy and distribute widely. Teamster officials now claim that in September they will reveal to members what healthcare benefits will be included in the next offer, and then will bargain with UPS over other vital issues. We need...

UPDATED September 11, 2013: The largest supplement to the ABF agreement – the Central Region local cartage agreement – was rejected again, as was the Western Region office supplement. Updated Local-by-Local contract votes are posted here. The other five supplements which were previously rejected were accepted in the second round of voting. The IBT Constitution (Article XII, Section 2) provides that after two such rejections, "The master national negotiating committee shall return to the bargaining...

August 28, 2013: Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The hidden history of the march may surprise you—and it shows why we need to keep marching today. Hidden History: The March on Washington was not organized by Martin Luther King. The march is best remembered for Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech which continues to inspire millions of Americans. But Dr. King was...

August 27, 2013: The International Union is holding a meeting for all locals with members in or moving into the Central States TeamCare plan in Chicago with representatives from TeamCare on Sept. 4. The IBT announcement promises, “updated information about the plan” and “educational materials to take back to your Local Union.” The only “updated information” that affected UPS Teamsters want to hear is that TeamCare will be matching members’ current benefits. UPS is providing those...

August 27, 2013: In response to questions to Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), we consulted an expert attorney who advises healthcare plans regarding compliance with Obamacare. Here are his responses to members’ questions. Q. January 1, 2014, is a trigger date for implementation of Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act). Does UPS need to have any new health plans in place prior to that date or face financial consequences? A. No. It really does not...

August 21, 2013: Hoffa and Hall say it is impossible for UPS Teamsters to win a thing. They won't bargain to protect healthcare, and they won't bargain for real changes in the Central Supplement. We say UPS workers can win. Here's how... First, if your supplemental negotiators are working to win gains, then back them, including the rank and filers on your negotiating committee. Get involved. That's Teamster solidarity. But that is not the case...