November 20, 2009: Ed Rodzwicz, the President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen of the IBT, stepped down today after he was arrested last month for taking a $20,000 bribe. Rodzwicz allegedly solicited a $20,000 bribe for an attorney in exchange for letting the attorney remain on the union’s list of designated legal counsel for injury cases. He was arrested on Oct. 12. Rodzwicz became president of the BLET after Don Hahs embezzled...

Teamster members can win new rights by changing your local’s bylaws. In most locals January is the time to act. Over the years, members have won many new rights by changing their bylaws, including: The right to elect stewards Rank-and-file members on contract negotiating committees, and rank-and-file access to bargaining proposals Salary caps for local union officers and local organizing funds Mail-in ballots for local union elections Access to benefit information from their local union...

November 18, 2009. The International Union today issued a statement flatly denying ABF management’s claim that the company expects to “reach an agreement soon” on concessions similar to those that YRC got from the union. The IBT statement appeared over the name of Freight Director Tyson Johnson. It states that: “According to a November 17 article on the Journal of Commerce website titled ‘Trucker ABF, Teamsters in Concession Talks’ ABF Chief Operating Officer Wesley Kemp...

November 17, 2009: Less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight System is deep in talks with the Teamsters union to win concessions similar to those the union gave financially troubled competitor YRC Worldwide, including an overhaul of the company’s pension system, the carrier said. Click here to read more at The Journal of Commerce. What do you think? Click here to send your comments to the TDU Freight Committee.

November 17, 2009: Helen Green, the president of Las Vegas Teamster Local 995, has filed suit in federal court, charging that the Local 995 secretary-treasurer demanded that she continue a sexual relationship with him to keep her job as a business agent. The sexual harassment suit was filed on Nov. 12 against Local 995, Joint Council 42 and the International Union. The basis of her claim against Joint Council 42 and the IBT is that...

November 16, 2009: The president of a local Teamsters union filed a federal lawsuit Friday that claims her supervisor used his position to coerce her into a sexual relationship with him. Helen Green, 49, filed the lawsuit against Teamsters Local 995, Teamsters Joint Council 42 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Click here to read more at Review Journal.

November 16, 2009: YRC will consolidate road and breakbulk operations in the Cleveland-Akron area. The company wants to close the Richfield Ohio breakbulk and move road and dock operations to the former Roadway terminal in Copley, Ohio. The move affects some 1,000 Teamsters at three terminals; over 400 of them are presently laid off. Members are concerned about seniority issues, bidding procedures, work rule changes, job qualifications, and other issues. The time for members’ voice...

November 13, 2009: Teamster members and local officers came from across the country to learn from each other and make plans to change the direction of our union, at the 34th annual TDU Convention. “I didn’t know what to expect at the TDU Convention, but it was a great experience. The classes, the good Teamsters I met. I will definitely be back next year,” said Fred Avila, a UPS inside worker from Local 952 in...

November 13, 2009: Membership outrage over proposed mid-contract concessions at DHL led to it being shelved by the national meeting of local officials. International Rep Brad Slawson tried to sell it, but Teamsters weren’t buying, and local officers said so at today’s Chicago meeting where it was presented to officers. As reported here ten days ago, DHL Teamsters launched a campaign to oppose the changes to the contract, which were a DHL move to eliminate...

November 12, 2009: Anticipating a visit by CEO Scott Davis, Local 177 booked a plane to circle UPS’s Edison hub with a banner: “UPS Stop Mistreating Your Employees.” Outside the hub, Local 177 officers distributed leaflets in the parking lot with the same message. Click here to see video footage on You Tube. Local 177 members are fed up with contract violations and company stonewalling in the grievance procedure. The local has thirty arbitrations scheduled...