April 24, 2013: The IBT approved the YRC system-wide change of operations with some slight modifications following the hearing in Dallas on April 19. See the attached proposal and final decision. The company’s method of bidding incorporates both follow the work and pool bidding. Some locals proposed changes in the bidding, but they were shot down. The telephone bid will be conducted on May 11, 2013 with implementation no sooner than May 19. The company...

April 22, 2013: More than 100,000 Teamsters will be moved out of their current health plan if UPS management gets its way in contract negotiations. Now some locals are demanding a separate vote on the issue. UPS wants to move more UPS Teamsters out of company health plans. The company and Ken Hall were all but set on moving these Teamsters into the Central States Health & Welfare Fund. But members and some local unions...

Updated April 22, 2013: The IBT and ABF have agreed to extend bargaining another 30 days, as ABF continues to demand big cuts in health care, pensions and wages.  The extension now runs until the end of May. According to an IBT Bulletin issued late yesterday, ABF is demanding that Teamsters pay $240 per month for family health coverage, with reduced benefits; big cuts in pension contributions, which would have the effect of removing ABF...

Join TDUers in Providence, other Teamster members, stewards and officers, as well as labor educators and experts, for a day of training and education. Workshops include: Legal Rights of Union Members Using Grievances to Protect Members from Unfair Discipline Winning a Better Contract at Rhode Island Hospital Uniting Labor and the Community for Workers' Rights Guest Speakers: Sandy Pope, President Teamsters Local 805; Ken Paff, National Organizer of TDU; and Julian Gonzalez, Labor Attorney. Southern...

April 19, 2013: UPS Teamsters and many local unions are raising red flags about members being moved into the Central States Health Fund. The proposal has sparked resistance from members and locals opposed to benefit reductions. Officers from every local in the West held a conference call on Wednesday and spoke out against any transfer to the Central States Health & Welfare Fund. Teamsters Local 177 which represents some 6,000 UPSers in New Jersey also...

UPDATED April 18, 2013: Republic Waste Teamsters walked out yesterday in Cleveland, joining striking Teamsters in Youngstown Ohio. Also, Republic Teamsters in Memphis Local 984 walked out, in an unfair labor practice strike. Some 600 are now out on strike in Northeast Ohio. The International union has extended picket lines on a rolling basis to some other areas, to put more pressure on the giant corporation. On April 18, Republic Teamsters in Seattle area are...

UPDATED April 18, 2013: YRCW and the union for 200 mechanics at 15 Holland and YRC terminals have reached a tentative agreement, and the threat of a lock-out is over, at least for now. Members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) will be voting on the contract. The Hoffa administration has taken the company's side, noting that the union mechanics are not going along with the "equality of sacrifice" envisioned in the Teamster memorandum...

April 16, 2013: Three thousand Teamsters, active and retired, headed to the union hall in Kansas City. What sparked the monster turnout and what does it say about Teamsters and our pensions? Over 250 people showed up at the Local 41 union meeting last Saturday. Another 3000 retirees showed up for a meeting that afternoon. What sparked this monster Teamster turnout? A report from Central States Pension Fund representatives, after TDU broke the news that...

UPDATED April 16, 2013 2:00 p.m. EDT: YRC has given another extension on its deadline to lock-out 200 union mechanics at 15 terminals. Bargaining is scheduled to continue today. Meanwhile, the Hoffa administration has taken the company’s side, but some Teamster members are choosing solidarity instead of sorry-assity. This Teamster rank and file solidarity may be what is bringing management back to the table. The mechanics, who are members of the International Association of Mechanics...

UPDATED April 19, 2013: The International Union will resume contract negotiations with UPS on April 22 with the goal of reaching a deal on a proposed new contract by the end of the week. Economic issues, including healthcare, remain on the table. The IBT and UPS have reached tentative agreements on a number of language issues, including 9.5 protections from excessive overtime. Members have been promised that the new 9.5 language will: Make it easier...