Winning a Strong Contract In Tough Times
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...
Southern Cal Warehouse Teamsters Fight Sweetheart Deal at Sysco
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 Now
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....
Brown Sees Green on Pensions
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...
Retirees Turn Out in Force
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,...
Teamster Organizing: Funding and Strategy Needed
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 Convention
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...
The Contract Vote in 2007: Learn from History
May 23, 2013: In 2007 the UPS contract passed with 65% of the vote with about 70,000 votes cast. Approximately 11,000 vote switches from Yes to No would have tipped the outcome. It is interesting to look at the vote in the supplemental areas and local unions. The vote varied widely by local union – and no doubt will again. In locals where TDUers and other reformers were active, the turnout was higher, and it...
Take the TDU Recruitment Challenge
July 10, 2013: Recruit five new members to TDU by Oct. 1 and we'll waive your registration fee to the 2013 TDU Convention. TDU recruitment makes everything we do possible. Imagine what we could do with even more members. Can you help make it happen? Click here to download a form to take the TDU Recruitment Challenge or call TDU at 313-842-2600 to get membership applications and recruitment materials. Recruit five members at the normal...
ABF Agreement and Supplements Now Available
May 20, 2013: The tentative agreement with ABF will go out to a vote on or about June 3, according to an IBT press release. You can read the master contract, and the supplemental agreements (below) and review and discuss the issues. Key changes in the proposed Tentative Agreement include: Immediate 7% wage reduction. 2% wage increases in the following three years; 2.5% in the last year of 5 year contract. Cost of Living clause...