UPS Still ‘In Love With Hoffa’
July 15, 2011: UPS management is so confident of their cozy relationship with IBT President James Hoffa that they are crowing about it to industry executives. UPS CEO Scott Davis told a gathering of CEOs and financial analysts on June 1 that, “The relationship with the Teamsters is better than it’s ever been before.” (Stanford C. Bernstein 27th Strategic Decisions Conference, 06/01/2011). “That is just about as close as any labor negotiator says to ‘I...
Part-Time Poverty Wages
August 3, 2011: The minimum wage in Washington State is now $8.67 an hour according to Washington State Labor and Industries. That is 17 cents more than the starting rate for part-timers in the UPS contract. In 1997, minimum wage was $5.15. Teamster General President Ron Carey and the members fought to raise the starting rate to $8.50. That’s 68 percent higher than the minimum wage at the time. If we kept up with that...
Ohio Teamsters Challenge Anti-Union Bill
July 15, 2011: This spring politicians passed the worst anti-union law in Ohio history. Teamsters, teachers, firefighters, and students rally against the worst anti-union bill in Ohio history. The new law will face a citizen's veto on the ballot this fall.But we aren’t hanging our heads low. Teamsters are working with other unions and community groups to repeal the new law through a citizen’s veto. Senate Bill 5 eliminated binding arbitration for public sector unions,...
In Memoriam: Steve Pocztowski
July 15, 2011: Steve Pocztowski, the secretary treasurer of Chicago Local 705, passed away on July 2 in Las Vegas as he prepared to leave the Teamster Convention. This was just three days after his nomination for Central Region Vice President, on the Hoffa slate. Steve worked his way up in the union, starting in 1974 as a part-timer at UPS. In 2003 he was elected principal officer, defeating an incumbent leader for the first...
The TDU Convention: We'll Be There!
The ballots to elect the next Teamster General President will go out just weeks after the TDU Convention. The TDU Convention will be a critical stop on the road to victory. Meet Teamsters from across our union. Ask the experts in over a dozen workshops. Get ready for the final push to Dump Hoffa and elect the strong leadership we deserve. Click here to register today. I'll Be There! “I’ll be in Cleveland to work...
Meeting the Challenge at the IBT Convention
June 17, 2011: Will Hoffa use the Teamster Convention to face the issues or duck for cover? In a few days, thousands of elected Teamster delegates, alternates, and guests will come together in Las Vegas for the Teamster Convention. This five-year Convention should be used to take on the tough challenges facing our union and make plans to take on Corporate America. Instead, Hoffa is planning a tightly-scripted Vegas act. (Spoiler Alert: click here for...
Milwaukee UPS-CSI Teamsters Win $21,000 and Raises
May 27, 2011: Six full-time drivers broke free from their lower tier scale at the UPS-CSI terminal in Oak Creek, Wisc. when they won a back pay settlement totaling $21,695. In addition, four of them saw their hourly wage increase by an average of $2.50 per hour. In February 2009, these members did not receive the scheduled wage increase under the Local 344 addendum to the national agreement. UPS-CSI insisted on following the inferior national...
Boston Teamsters Bounce Hoffa Crook
UPDATED MAY 26, 2011: Local 82 members have bounced a top Hoffa appointee and his number one thug from our union. Their charges vindicated, they have one more goal: saving their local union and returning it to the members. Hoffa’s former Trade Show Division Director has been officially bounced from the Teamsters. John Perry has signed an agreement with the Independent Review Board, agreeing to a lifetime ban from the Teamsters. Perry, the former principal...
Bus Drivers Unite for Good Contract
May 20, 2011: Bus drivers in Vermont have a new contract thanks to a year-long rank-and-file campaign that reached out to the community. Just hours before their strike deadline, Teamster bus drivers in Vermont won a contract that delivers on the key issues. The victory is the result of a well-organized contract campaign which proved once again that the best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared to win one. Offer Rejected 52...
Spring into Action to Elect Sandy Pope
May 20, 2011: Members have launched a campaign to reach 100,000 Teamster voters in June. Will you do your part? Fed Up with Hoffa “Teamsters in Memphis are fed up with Hoffa. It’s up to you and me to go out and tell members about why Sandy Pope is the best candidate. “Now is the time to get the campaign rolling. We’ve set a goal of reaching 100,000 Teamsters. “I know we can do it!”...