Teamster Political Efforts: Where the Money Goes
April 2, 2010: The Teamsters Union, like all major unions, raises voluntary political donations from members (the DRIVE program), and uses the resources to inform voters and influence legislative and regulatory measures affecting Teamster members. Unions can never match corporate money, but do spend a fair amount. The best bang for our buck is when our union mobilizes members to join in campaigns to protect our pensions and pass laws to protect workers’ rights. Do...
Letters from our Members
Cut the Race Car and the Perks The Teamsters are considering a pay cut at ABF. What needs to happen before we get screwed over is this: ABF needs to get rid of the race car and let the CEO and the other super over-paid suits skip their bonuses and commission for a year. Then start getting rid of useless stuff like the company magazine I get every month or even cut it back to...
Garbage strike averted -- for now
April 1, 2010: A garbage strike has been averted - at least for now. Jackie Lang, the spokeswoman for Waste Management, said early Thursday morning that the company and garbage collectors had agreed at about 1 a.m. to continue negotiating and, in the meantime, to avoid a work stoppage. Click here to read more at The Seattle Times.
UPS invests $1 billion in technology to cut costs
March 30, 2010: United Parcel Service (UPS) will make about US$1 billion in technology investments this year to improve the efficiency of its operations, with the goal of cutting billions more from its costs over the long term, company executives said Tuesday. One of its main goals is to improve the speed and efficiency of its delivery operations. To achieve that, UPS is equipping its vans with sensors that allow it to collect data about...
Union vote authorizes garbage strike in King and Snohomish counties
March 29, 2010: The union representing about 500 garbage truck drivers voted Sunday to authorize a strike against two major trash hauling companies that serve thousands of homes and businesses in King and Snohomish counties. The near-unanimous vote by members of Teamsters Local 174 is the first step toward a possible strike, which could ultimately shut down garbage and recycling collection for whole sections of the Puget Sound region. Click here to read more at...
On the Defensive at UPS
March 26, 2010: President Hoffa and Ken Hall responded to TDU’s calls for stronger contract enforcement in a conference call with UPS shop stewards. The Teamsters Package Division held a conference call last night for UPS shop stewards on legislative and contract enforcement issues. Much of the call focused on a report on an upcoming fight over legislation that would make it easier for FedEx employees to exercise their right to join our union. Click...
IBT Promises Action to Close Fed Loophole
March 26, 2010: Hoffa and Hall told UPS shop stewards via conference call to “be ready” for a push to win passage of a law that will make it easier for FedEx workers to join our union. As previously reported by TDU, the Teamsters Union and UPS have backed a bill that would close a loophole that makes FedEx the only parcel company in the U.S. that is covered by the Railway Labor Act—a labor...
Kansas City Business Journal: YRC Worldwide CEO’s compensation slides in 2009
March 26, 2010: Reflecting YRC Worldwide Inc.’s dismal 2009, CEO Bill Zollars saw his annual compensation decline almost 10 percent to $1.9 million, according to an analysis of securities filings. Zollars received a base salary of $928,104, which included a 10 percent pay cut he shared with other non-union employees, the company reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission late Thursday. He also received a $135,000 “other compensation” fund, which he could use for various...
Southern Locals Paying $1.7 Million for Multiple Pensions
March 25, 2010: Every local in the South is being forced to pay tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to bankroll big extra pensions for Teamster officials. It’s a case of misusing union members’ money to provide outsized perks to officials, instead of to build our Teamsters Union. The locals are paying about $1.7 million this year to the Southern Region of Teamsters Pension Fund, which covers only the full-time officers and staff of...
Seattle Times: Garbage haulers in King, Snohomish counties could strike next week
March 26, 2010: Garbage, recycling and yard-waste haulers for more than 1 million homes in King and Snohomish counties are threatening to strike next week. Garbage, recycling and yard-waste haulers for more than 1 million homes and businesses in King and Snohomish counties are threatening to strike next week. About 500 workers for Waste Management and Allied Waste — members of Teamsters Local 174 — will vote Sunday whether to strike if they can't settle...