August 21, 2008: Carhaulers who want to help win a good contract have a great new tool: stickers that send our message loud and clear. Dozens of members all suggested one slogan: “No Givebacks.” A rush order has been placed for colorful union-made stickers (3 ¾ in. x 2 ½ in). TDU will mail you your stickers next week if you place your order soon. Stickers should arrive to you by Aug. 30. Prices range...

August 21, 2008: The Central States Pension Fund lost $3.1 billion in assets during the first six months of this year—half the $6.1 billion UPS paid to leave the fund in December. In the first half of 2008, the fund lost $2.2 billion on their investments, or eight percent of their assets. At the same time, they suffered a $287 million loss of income, compared to the first half of last year, because UPS is...

August 21, 2008: The first round of Bud contract talks since Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev bought Anheuser-Busch wraps up today, with few surprises so far. According to initial reports, management and the union brought only a few proposals to this round of talks, which dealt with local issues. Talks will resume at the end of September, when the national negotiating committee will meet to discuss the national contract. Our union’s contract with A-B covers over 7,000...

August 21, 2008: Teamsters who load vehicles onto railcars at the local Ford plants went on strike today after contract negotiations broke down between the union and a contractor, Auto Port. The strike, which involves about 435 workers, is not affecting production at the plants, said Ford spokeswoman Angie Kozleski. The auto company had contingency plans in place, Kozleski said, but declined to describe the measures. Click here to read more at The Courier-Journal.

August 21, 2008: Trucking company YRC Worldwide Inc. said Tuesday it has completed its acquisition of one of the largest less-than-truckload carriers in China. YRC, the largest less-than-truckload carrier in the U.S., said it paid $44.7 million for 65 percent of the stock of Shanghai Jiayu Logistics Co. It plans to buy the remaining 35 percent in 2010 for up to $39 million, depending on the company's performance over the next two years. Click here...

August 20, 2008: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters says lenders are holding up a potential plan for helping Interstate Bakeries Corp. exit almost four years of bankruptcy protection, endangering thousands of jobs. In a news release, the Teamsters, who represent more than 9,500 Interstate Bakeries workers, singled out JPMorgan Chase Bank and hedge fund Monarch Alternative Capital for blocking the plan the union said it has negotiated with investor Ripplewood Holdings from moving forward. Click...

August 19, 2008: The new UPS Pension Fund covering 44,000 Teamsters in the Central States not only offers the lowest benefits. It also has no reciprocal agreements with Teamster pension plans around the country. That means that UPSers in the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest who have substantial years worked under other pension plans will face stiff pension reductions when they retire. Most (though not all) Teamster pension funds have reciprocal agreements. For example: a Teamster...

August 19, 2008: When the votes on the carhaul contract were counted, Donna McCuiston was there as a rank-and-file observer. And she’ll be there at the TDU Convention October 24-26 too. “Carhaul members need answers and a real plan for moving the union forward. The TDU Convention is the best place to come together and rebuild rank-and-file organization and power. We all need to be in Cleveland in October.” Donna McCuiston, Allied Local 299, Detroit...

August 19, 2008: Members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Aug. 16-17 voted to ratify a first contract with UPS Freight covering about 1,000 truck drivers and dockworkers at 50 terminals nationwide, the union announced Aug. 18. About 94 percent of the members who voted approved the contract, which contains wage and benefit terms nearly identical to those of a 64-month national UPS Freight agreement reached in March to cover an estimated 9,900 drivers and...

August 18, 2008: UPS is violating our contract and ducking its obligation to create and maintain 20,000 full-time combo jobs. It's time for union action to make UPS deliver all 20,000 full-time combo jobs that we are owed and that working Teamsters have been waiting for. You can help make it happen by downloading the Make UPS Deliver grievance action packet. Across the country, members are filing grievances and distributing informational leaflets. We need your...