January 23, 2013: When it comes to defending members, write-ups for absenteeism is one of the most common problems stewards have to deal with. TDU asked experienced stewards and union representatives for tips on protecting members from unfair discipline. Here's what they had to say: Q. What's the first thing you do when someone's written up for absenteeism? A. You have to do a thorough investigation. You can't rely on management's story. I look into...

January 28, 2013: You know it's time for negotiating the next contract when ABF starts bombarding members with the message that times are tough. So tough that the company claims a loss of $230 million since 2009. The company has mailed a DVD explaining the state of their finances and upper management has visited a few terminals to plead their case. "It makes you wonder how much ABF spent on this," commented Doug Wylie, a...

January 23, 2013: Members pledge to vote NO unless contract has major improvements. Teamsters at UPS Freight are organizing to win a good contract. Stewards and active members have met for months to discuss necessary improvements with the 2013 contract. A solid set of union proposals was taken to negotiations. Members understand that it will take the active involvement of Teamster members to succeed. In January they launched a petition campaign to reach more members...

January 23, 2013: The members have spoken and re-elected 804 Members United, the reform leadership in one of the largest UPS locals in the country. Local 804 represents more than 6,000 UPS Teamsters in metropolitan New York. Voter turnout was high in a hotly-contested three way race that pitted 804 Members United against two slates led by former Local 804 officers. "Local 804 members are passionate and opinionated. They get involved. That's what a democratic...

January 23, 2013: An NLRB judge has ruled that Voith Services conspired with the United Auto Workers (UAW) to deprive over 100 Louisville Teamsters of their jobs and their union contract. The decision orders Voith to put 85 of the Teamsters to work, pay them nearly a year's back-pay, reinstate the superior terms of the Teamster contract, and void the bogus deal the company signed with the UAW. The December 21 ruling is a decisive...

January 23, 2013: While under trusteeship and controlled by a Hoffa appointee, Local 630 signed a side-agreement that created a new job classification paying $10 per hour below the contract wage. The agreement is with US Foods, a company that employs Teamsters all over the country, and undermines Teamster standards in the warehouse division. The cut-rate wage is in regards to a new machine called a Robo Wrapper. The new machine does work currently performed...

January 23, 2013: The Independent Review Board (IRB) has sent a 141-page investigative report to Teamster president James Hoffa, calling for charges against the former top Teamsters in Minnesota, Brad Slawson Sr and Jr, along with their family friend and business partner, Todd Chester. The IRB report, which is available here, alleges that both Brad Slawson Sr and Jr committed racketeering and bank fraud. While the IRB does not have the authority to bring criminal...

January 23, 2013: The employers are stepping up their attacks on union jobs. Members say it's time to start fighting back. Teamster dairy workers in New York City have fought for years against company cost-cutting, growing nonunion competition and weakening contract protections. The employers are stepping up their attacks on union jobs. Members say it’s time to start fighting back. Nearly 200 members of New York City Local 584 who worked at Beyer Farms were...

January 23, 2013: UPS is making billions. But our working conditions have never been worse. Last time UPS and the International Union negotiated early, we got concessions. We need to do better. You only have so many shots at a contract in your career. If UPS wants an early agreement, they need to address the growing problems under the current agreement. UPS Teamsters are being kept in the dark by our Union about what's happening...

January 23, 2013: UPS Teamsters might give a higher approval rating to Congress than to their broken grievance procedure. At contract time, many are pointing to problems with the grievance panels and how to use contract bargaining to make the grievance process work better for members. Panels are notoriously slow. They often operate like secret chambers. And the union seems to be able to win only a tiny percentage of the cases that are actually...