Is Fighting for Justice at Smithfield Racketeering?
February 26, 2008: Is it illegal for an activist group or union to criticize a company’s business practices? Is it a “conspiracy” if advocates call for boycotts, organize rallies, or press for resolutions from elected bodies? Smithfield Foods, the largest producer of pork products in the world, is hoping so, after a lawsuit it filed last October passed an initial court challenge. The suit aims to halt the United Food and Commercial Workers’ campaign to...
Read the Secret Tentative Agreement at DHL
February 22, 2008: TDU has obtained the details of new givebacks proposed at DHL. Seven months ago, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) exposed a secret sell-out negotiated by International Rep. Brad Slawson with DHL. Members got organized, opposed the givebacks, and the deal was shelved. But now it is back off the shelf, and remains as dangerous as ever. TDU has obtained a copy of the new agreement that our negotiators are finalizing. The...
Educational Workshops Available from TDU
When you have a problem at work or in our union, a little education can go a long way in finding a solution. Our union is stronger when members know their rights and how to use them. For over 30 years, TDU members have been setting up educational workshops and training Teamsters to know their rights, solve workplace problems, and build stronger locals. “When members of our local tried to call our BA about a...
Teamsters Stand Up for Good, Full-Time Jobs
February 21, 2008: DHL and UPS are launching new attacks on Teamster full-time jobs. Members are uniting to say Part-Time America Won’t Work. Good full-time jobs are under attack. Employers are replacing full-time jobs with part-time positions that don’t pay a living wage—even under our top Teamster contracts. DHL is ground zero for the latest attack on Teamster full-time jobs. UPS also has a new scheme to undermine full-time jobs. The good news is Teamster...
After Defeating Pension Cuts, Local 804 Teamsters Organize for Pension Info
February 21, 2008: Two times in the last 18 months, UPS has blindsided Teamsters in New York City by demanding pension cuts. Now Local 804 Teamster members are organizing to get the information they need to defend their pensions. Two thousand members have signed a petition to propose changes to the Local 804 bylaws that will put more contract and pension information in the hands of the Local 804 membership. In November 2006, UPS forced...
Carhaul Members Speak Out
February 21, 2008: TDU asked carhaul Teamsters what they thought we should to protect the standards in our master contract. We heard from over 100 concerned members and stewards. Here’s what members had to say. “The economy is bad and the carhaul industry isn’t doing well. But the Big Three positioned themselves to do better with the new UAW contract. By mid 2009, things could be picking up and there will be plenty of cars...
Carhaul: How About a Two-Year Contract?
February 21, 2008: Bargaining begins for the national carhaul contract in March, and the concessions at Allied could spread. Carhaul Teamsters are talking about what we can do to protect our master contract and our Teamster standards. In late January Teamster carhaul officials met to screen contract proposals and formulate the demands for the national contract that expires May 30. On Feb. 20 local officials will meet again to approve the union’s demands. Bargaining will...
DHL Contract Revealed: Time to Stand United
February 21, 2008: For thousands of DHL Teamsters, the long-awaited decision time is near. Are we going to let this giant corporation put a “red circle” noose around us, and convert good full-time jobs to three-hour part-timers? The DHL national contract and national Pick Up and Delivery Supplement are not yet public, but we have obtained the key details contained in the deal. The following give-aways have been agreed to by Brad Slawson of the...
Virginia Local 29: Feeder Drivers Defend Seniority
February 21, 2008: For two years, UPS management has been violating drivers’ seniority rights in Virginia—and getting away with it. Now drivers have turned the tables on the company to stop the violations. For the last two years in the Staunton, Va. center, UPS management has been getting away with rearranging feeder runs in violation of the normal bidding process—and feeder drivers’ seniority rights. Now Local 29 drivers have taken action to put a stop...
Local 705 Tells UPS: "8/1, We're Done!"
February 21, 2008: UPS has wrapped up a new national contract—but the company’s contract headaches may just be beginning. This week, Chicago Local 705 kicked off a contract campaign with T-shirts that tell UPS management: “8/1, We’re Done!” August 1 is the day after the Local 705 contract expires with UPS. The Local 705 contract is independent of the national agreement and covers thousands of UPS Teamsters in the Chicago area. “Members are determined to...