March 4, 2008: Once again, employers are pushing to make it harder for workers to take time off under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). On February 11, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposals for new rules that would open loopholes for employers to deny leave to workers who need to take time for an illness or to take care of a family member. These proposed rules are still under consideration. Now is the...

March 4, 2008: The American Trucking Associations is urging shippers and chemical facilities not to force drivers of hazardous materials to obtain a new security credential that is used for port facilities, saying those drivers already have a credential that requires a full background check. In a letter to the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council dated Feb. 22, ATA encouraged chemical plants not to demand extra credentials from hazmat drivers who have already passed a security...

March 3, 2008: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said Thursday that it’s working on bringing a new investor to Interstate Bakeries Corp. that would inject an undisclosed sum into the bankrupt company. Teamsters spokesman Rich Volpe said the union has reached an agreement with New York-based hedge fund Ripplewood Holdings, including on the collective bargaining agreements for the 10,000 employees of IBC represented by the union. Read more at kansascity.com.

February 27, 2007: This new video details how working Teamsters in Chicago took back Local 743. On Jan. 1, Richard Berg and the New Leadership Slate took office in the 13,000 member local. This video looks at their long road to turn around their local. Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to view the video on another website.

February 27, 2008: The IBT has announced that they reached a tentative agreement with DHL, and will soon hold a meeting for local officials to get a copy of the proposed deal. While we have heard reports about the wage increases for full-timers and the new cut-rate wage for part-timers, we do have the facts in hand. On the day of the “two-person” meeting of local officials, we will make available the full language of...

Teamsters are setting aside vacation time now to attend the TDU Convention this year in Cleveland, October 24 - 26. “I attended my first TDU Convention last fall and I will definitely be back this year. At the TDU Convention you get a chance to meet rank-and-file members who are truly concerned about their fellow Teamsters and are willing to roll up their sleeves and work together to build up our union. The TDU Convention...

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...

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...

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...

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...