Teamsters Take on UPS in LouisvilleUPS Teamsters in Louisville look to be on a collision course with the company over the mammoth Local 89 Air Rider which covers 9,300 UPS Teamsters at UPS Worldport, the company’s central air hub in the country, as well as other UPS buildings. Local 89 stewards and the Executive Board have unanimously opposed the national contract. As we go to press, the local reports that talks on the Air Rider...

May 24, 2013: UPS Teamsters in New York win pension increases, more full-time jobs, and grievance procedure reform. New York Local 804 members entered UPS contract negotiations with high expectations and steep challenges. Their pensions had been frozen for more than a decade. Management has been eroding full-time 22.3 jobs and taking advantage of a broken grievance procedure. Local 804 members have the advantage of having their own supplement which covers 6,000 UPS Teamsters in...

May 24, 2013: Contract negotiations started on a high note. UPS was making record profits. When the company demanded healthcare concessions, it was standing room only at Teamster rallies. Members were ready to fight for their healthcare. But our International Union wasn't. Angry members who feel blindsided on healthcare are organizing a Vote No movement in many areas. They are passing out leaflets, talking in break rooms, wearing Vote No T-shirts, and have a "Vote...

May 24, 2013: With nonunion competition on the rise, 800 Teamster movers in New York City won contracts that protect their healthcare, reduce two-tier wage gaps, and put more union movers to work. Here's how. "Getting started early and involving members every step of the way was key," says Phil Puma, a shop steward and member of the contract negotiating committee. Local 814 members started organizing a year before their contract expired, beginning by distributing...

May 24, 2013: Teamsters employed by Sysco in Southern California are standing up against a substandard deal negotiated for the new Sysco Riverside distribution center slated to open in June. "We are not going to accept this. We want to be involved. We deserve to be involved in these negotiations," said Ralph Sistos, a Sysco driver in Los Angeles. Members are organizing for a no vote to get the bad deal renegotiated. The whole situation...

Opposition Needs to Grow NowCongressional Hearings Coming on New Pension Proposals June 7, 2013: A dangerous proposal that would change federal law to allow "deeply troubled" pension plans to slash the benefits of retirees could be introduced into Congress as soon as this summer. The time is now for opposition to eliminating the federal law known as the "anti-cutback rule." It is clear that the "deeply troubled" plans would include the Central States Pension Plan....

May 24, 2013: UPS will save billions in lower pension costs during the life of the new contract as the company reaps the financial rewards of pension deals in the Central and Southern Regions and New England. For the next five years, UPS will pay very substandard contributions in two of the largest pension plans covering more than 50,000 UPS Teamsters.  Under the new contract, UPS will actually reduce its pension contributions in New England...

May 24, 2013: On April 14, some 3,000 retirees came to the union hall to hear an update from Al Nelson of the Central States Pension Fund. Many are concerned about the move by Central States and the Hoffa administration to pass a law which would eliminate the "anti-cutback" rule and allow Central States to cut existing pensions. "I am glad we had a meeting for retirees at Local 41 in Kansas City. Vic Terranella,...

May 24, 2013: "A nickel an hour for Teamster power" was Hoffa's slogan in 2002 to get the dues raised by 25 percent at a one-hour special convention in Las Vegas. A decade later, it's time to evaluate the organizing program: how are we doing at building Teamster power? Very little of that new money goes to local unions; the bulk goes to the International, where it funds more staff salaries, as well as the...

2013 TDU ConventionNovember 1-3, 2013, Chicago At the TDU convention, Teamster reform leaders, labor educators and legal experts will be on hand to lead trainings on everything from grievance handling and member-to-member organizing, to running for local office and confronting new challenges facing our labor movement. EDUCATIONThree days of the best workshops and skills trainings for Teamsters who want to learn how to take on the boss—and win.  INFORMATIONDon't be left in the dark. Stay...