August 22, 2012: It's an ugly question, but one that has to be faced. And then our union needs to take action to deal with the problem, to prevent it from happening. The Hoffa administration has all but given up on the Central States Pension Plan. This decision could have dire consequences for 280,000 Teamsters and retirees, numerous Teamster officers, and the financial viability of hundreds of Teamster locals. What can be done to prevent...

UPDATED August 24, 2012: Teamster power broker John Coli has ousted the president of Chicago Local 700 and installed Becky Strzechowski as head of the 12,500 public sector local. The losers in Coli's latest power grab are the Teamsters who work for the City of Chicago, Cook County and other public entities. Coli and Strzechowski are now positioned to trade concessions to politicians in exchange for perks, appointments and political deals. Coli created Local 700...

August 22, 2012: More than 100 Teamsters lost their jobs in a corrupt union-busting deal in Louisville. They're fighting back and may be headed to victory. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has taken unusual emergency action in the case. Instead of waiting endlessly for a complaint to move forward, the NLRB has filed for an injunction in federal court to stop union busting.  If the NLRB's motion succeeds, the Teamsters will be returned to...

August 24, 2012: We've delivered $4 billion in profits. UPS has taken care of its CEO Scott Davis. It's time to take make UPS deliver for us in the contract. Headed into contract negotiations, UPS continues to make big profits, especially in the package and freight divisions where Teamster members work. U.S. domestic package business is responsible for 63 percent of the company's profits. Those profits are on the rise and will easily top $4...

August 22, 2012: Package Division Director Ken Hall has announced that the next and last national grievance panel of the year will be cut to just one day, Oct. 9, to cover all cases from both UPS and UPS Freight. The national grievance panel normally lasts five days. Contract violations are up. So why are union officials all but canceling the national grievance panel? Hall reports that Teamster officers from a number of Supplemental Negotiating...

Contract Negotiations Timeline Sept. 11UPS National Article Screening: Contract proposals from locals will be screened in Washington D.C. by a committee that will prepare the International Union’s bargaining proposals. Sept. 21UPS Two-Person Meeting: The National Negotiating Committee will hold a two-person meeting with officers from every Teamster local representing UPSers to approve the union’s bargaining proposals. Sept. 27National Negotiations Open: Contract talks begin. UPS and the International Union exchange bargaining proposals Oct 15-18, 22-25 &...

August 22, 2012: How paranoid of members coming together are the officials Local 251 in Providence? The day before a picnic organized by members at UPS and Rhode Island Hospital, Local 251 officials posted flyers around the hospital that said, "TDU picnic cancelled for lack of interest." But neither rain nor the shenanigans by Local 251 officials could dampen growing membership unity in Providence. Despite bad weather, Local 251 members turned out to barbecue, talked...

"Last year's TDU Convention was my first and it was a great experience. I met Teamsters from around the country but the best part was meeting up with freight Teamsters. "Times have been tough but when you know there are other committed brothers and sisters to take up the fight, it makes all the difference. I'll be in Chicago to recharge and make plans for the coming year." Mike Zajac, YRCLocal 317, Syracuse, N.Y. "I'll...

August 7, 2012: The International Union will hold a "two-person" meeting of officers from every Local to finalize the Union's bargaining proposals to UPS on Sept. 21 in Chicago.   A two-person meeting for UPS Freight locals will be held later the same day at the same Chicago hotel.  Now is the time for members to get your proposal ideas to their Local Unions about what you want to see negotiated in the contract.  Many Local...

Gregory Carter, a St. Louis Alderman and Local 688 Teamster, was tragically killed in a traffic accident while working at UPS. Teamsters for a Democratic Union sends our condolences to Brother Carter's friends and family. Below is an article from The St. Louis American on Brother Carter's extraordinary life and tragic death: Wednesday, August 1, 2012 -- St. Louis Democrats, locked in bitter struggles over the August 7 primary, were unexpectedly united in sorrow Wednesday...