January 22, 2010: Teamster bus drivers are taking a new route to a better contract in 2010. They’re organizing a rank-and-file contract campaign to win higher pay, more affordable health benefits, and more rights on the job. Vermont Local 597 represents 70 drivers and mechanics who work for the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA). Their contracts don’t expire until June 30. But members are getting an early start this time around. Concerned drivers started meeting...

Are you satisfied with the direction our union is headed in? Teamsters are uniting across our union to change course and rebuild Teamster Power in 2010. “UPS Teamsters in Local 804 have been busy rebuilding Teamster Power. First, we voted down a weak contract, reversed pension cuts and saved 25 & Out. And last month, we elected a new leadership team. “We won these victories because of the courage and commitment of Local 804 Teamsters....

January 18, 2010: This month our nation and Teamster members remember and celebrate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King and countless other civil rights activists. But for many Teamsters, Dr. King’s fight continues. Thousands of Teamsters still face discrimination, even at some of the biggest Teamster employers. Just ask UPS Teamsters in Lumberton in rural eastern North Carolina. UPS management targeted Black and Native American drivers and imposed harsher discipline on these drivers. UPS...

January 15, 2010: Teamsters at UPS Freight say subcontracting is rampant while members are laid off. TDU spoke to Teamsters around the country for this special report on protecting our contract and our jobs at UPS Freight. Drivers from Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Memphis, New Jersey, Reno and many more places report seeing freight moving in and out on nonunion trailers daily. The problem is in the company’s use of Article 44. Under the article,...

January 14, 2010: On January 13, the elected president and secretary treasurer of Chicago Local 743 won a stay of effectiveness issued by General President Hoffa and will remain in office, after top Chicago officials ruled that they should be removed on trumped up charges. Teamster activists in Chicago Local 743 have been battling to free their 11,000-member local from mob and old guard control for many years. Now the top Chicago officials have escalated...

January 12, 2010: Teamster activists in Chicago Local 743 have been battling to free their 11,000 member local from mob and old guard control for many years. Now the top Chicago officials have escalated the fight, by removing the elected president and secretary treasurer from office on trumped up charges. Local 743 members are saying “We Won’t Go Back,” after elected president Richard Berg and secretary treasurer Gina Alvarez were removed from office yesterday by...

January 8, 2010: The International Union held a YRC members conference call yesterday to congratulate themselves and to thank members for their sacrifices to keep YRC rolling. IBT Freight Director Tyson Johnson also stated that he expects Chicago Teamsters to take a 5% pay cut by February 1. The rumor in Chicago is that another vote is coming soon. It will be the third vote on the same concessions for Local 705 and the fourth...

Learn strategies for enforcing your rights on the job. Meet other Teamsters who are rebuilding union power. WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: Grievance Handling 1: Writing & Investigating Grievances Grievance Handling 2: Making Your Case Winning SPORH Disciplinary Cases TDU Education ConferenceSunday, June 13, 201011:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden29-19 24th Ave., Astoria, Queens Click here to download a flyer with the schedule of the event and directions to the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden....

January 5, 2010: The International Freight Division is hosting a mass telephone conference call for YRC Teamsters on Thursday, Jan. 7. The call is set for 7:30 pm Eastern time. Members should dial in to (877) 269-7289. You must enter the access code after you dial in: the access code is 14111. The IBT is expected to congratulate itself for helping YRC in its efforts to get bondholders to accept stock instead of cash payments....

January 4, 2009: YRC Worldwide Inc. and its employees finally have reason to cheer this New Year's holiday, although the trucking giant still faces challenges. After multiple deadline extensions, the company wrapped up its much-delayed financial restructuring Thursday and averted a likely bankruptcy. It still faces its seasonally slow winter and unresolved debt payments a few months away. Click here to read the full article from the Kansas City Star, at istockanalyst.com.