Pac Fed Teamsters Lose Right to Vote
April 2, 2010: In 2006, members in the Pacific Federation of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) in the Teamsters held their first-ever one-member, one-vote election for officers. Now members are losing the Right to Vote. In March, Pac Fed officials announced that they are merging with the Unified System Division. A new election for officers was scheduled for later this year in the Pac Fed. That election is cancelled and members...
Puerto Rico Teamsters Demand Democracy
April 2, 2010: The head of Puerto Rico Local 901 has been banned from the union. Members are demanding a real clean-up and a new election. Teamster members in Puerto Rico demonstrated outside their union last month demanding new elections in Local 901. Members rallied at the union hall and tried to present a petition to the Executive Board. Local 901 officials locked the doors and armed security guards blocked members from entering their own...
Pension Bills on Congress' Agenda
April 2, 2010: Pension legislation that could help Teamsters, or hurt us, has been proposed in both the House and Senate. The time is now for our union to get into high gear on this issue, including mobilizing our members and retirees. Take Action to Protect Teamster Pensions Click here to find out what you can do today. On March 22, Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 3157, and he did...
Take Action Today to Protect Teamster Pensions
April 2, 2010: Pension legislation that could help Teamsters, or hurt us, has been proposed in both the House and Senate. Our job is to get a pension bill that not only helps our pension funds, but protects 100 percent of the pension credits earned by Teamsters and other workers. All the bills are complicated and likely to be amended in the House and Senate. Teamsters should contact their Representatives and Senators with two very...
Hoffa Ally Caught in a Nepotism Scandal
April 2, 2010: Hoffa moves to protect an International Vice President caught in a nepotism scandal. Friends and relatives of Local 107 officials work on Philadelphia movie sets, while experienced Teamsters sit home out of work. The Independent Review Board (IRB) has released a devastating 125-page report detailing a “nepotism and favoritism” scandal in the home local of International Vice President Bill Hamilton. The IRB recommended that Philadelphia Local 107 be put in trusteeship. Instead...
Teamster Election Coming Up!
The election for IBT General President and General Executive Board starts this year. A federal Election Supervisor has been named. Election rules will be final by May 1, 2010. Election Timeline Click here to read the IBT Election Timeline The Election Supervisor has been named for the 2011 election for International Union officers. And proposed Election Rules, which will go into effect on May 1, are now available for comment before they are finalized. Richard...
IBT Election Timeline
May 2010: Rules issued for the 2010-2011 Delegate and IBT Officer Election. Members sign petitions.June 1, 2010: Election Supervisor will announce number of petition signatures required for Accreditation of International Officer Candidates. June 30, 2010: Deadline for submission of proposed Local Union Plan for locals seeking to hold a Fall election of delegates (this will affect a small minority of Local Unions). July 1 – December 15, 2010: Petitions to Accredit International Officer candidates may...
No Action on Subcontracting at UPS Freight
April 2, 2010: IBT Vice President Ken Hall says that the UPS Freight National Panel is doing an “outstanding job.” So why did our union only win five grievances at the March panel? Teamsters at UPS Freight didn’t have much to cheer about when they reviewed the results of their national grievance panel. Out of 27 grievances heard, the union won only five cases—and none dealing with subcontracting. The UPS Freight National Panel met March...
How to Document Subcontracting Grievances
April 2, 2010: Article 44 contains the following language that drivers can use to protect jobs from subcontracting: “However, if sufficient freight is generated in the future to provide loads returning to the home domicile, the run shall be performed by members of the bargaining unit.” If the company is violating Article 44 in your area, your first step is to gather the evidence. Here’s what to document: Trailer numbers and loads that are being...
How Will Health Care Law Impact Teamsters?
April 2, 2010: Amid all the debate on health care, many Teamsters are asking a nitty-gritty question—how will this affect my Teamster health coverage? The answer is not much. Two things that go into effect this year which will benefit some Teamsters are: All plans must provide for coverage of dependent children up till age 26. No plan can impose a lifetime cap on benefits. The first one benefits Teamsters who are supporting young-adult children...