March 2, 2007: The House of Representatives voted by a margin of 241–185 to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (HR 800), which would level the playing field when workers seek to organize a union. Thirteen Republicans joined 228 Democrats in voting for the bill. Two Democrats and 183 Republicans voted against the bill. Contact your U.S. Senators today to urge them to vote for the Senate version of the bill sponsored by Ted Kennedy....

Teamster members have pressed hard but never gotten a satisfactory answer to one question: why has the Central States fund cut so deeply when other Teamster funds continue to provide superior benefits? “Apples and oranges” fund and IBT representatives claim, yet they have refused to state exactly what differences exist. And they have refused to provide the information needed to conduct an independent actuarial study of the fund. Working with a pension fund specialist, the...

Use the Knowledge “For 27 years, the $100,000 Club has given members the facts and Teamsters have responded by demanding reforms. TDU and the $100,000 Club have reduced dues waste and freed up millions to spend on union power. History proves it. Now let's finish the job.”Michael Savwoir, UPS Local 41, Kansas City, MO 2006 Annual $100,000 ClubFor 27 years, TDU has published the $100,000 Club—a comprehensive listing of all Teamster officials who make more...

Reform Teamsters, spearheaded by TDU, have succeeded in directing members’ dues money away from fat-cat salaries and into programs that build union power. But millions of dollars in members’ dues are still wasted every year on bloated salaries and a patronage scheme of multiple salaries that the Hoffa administration pays to buy political loyalty. Those are the findings of this year’s analysis of Teamster financial reports by the Teamster Rank and File Education and Legal...

TDU began publishing the “$100,000 Club” in 1979. Armed with this information, and the Right to Vote, Teamsters have demanded financial reforms and won them. In 1987, Teamster President Jackie presser bagged $609,984 in multiple salaries. In today’s dollars (adjusted for inflation), that would be over $1 million. International Vice President Arnie Weinmeister made $443,612 that year. Others, like Weldon Mathis, took home $305,914. They used union-owned jets to go to golf resorts. In 1989,...

February 27, 2007: In January Eastern Freight Director Dan Virtue was removed from his position by Teamster President Hoffa. Virtue immediately filed a protest with the Election Supervisor, charging retaliation because he ran as an independent candidate for Eastern Vice President. Ironically, Virtue’s last work for the Freight Division was to help prevent Yellow from misusing a Premium Service Change of Operations. The Hoffa administration is apparently claiming that they just want to save money...

We Need a Strong NMFA in 2008 Our NMFA is up March 31, 2008, and we need Mr. Hoffa and the International Negotiations Committee to stop treating freight Teamsters like second class union members. We are paid far short of the UPS drivers, yet we do the same work as they do, plus the additional responsibility of hauling hazmats. We also have to work forced overtime and our companies manipulate workers into doing the work...

As U.S. Allied Teamsters may soon be voting on drastic concessions, Allied Teamsters in Ontario and Quebec are standing united, with pensions and wages being key issues. The next bargaining round is set for early March, but with the report that PTS is buying Allied-Canada, a question mark hangs over the negotiations. Allied employs about 700 Teamsters in Eastern Canada, more than the other companies—PTS, Cassens, and Gen Auto—combined. PTS has already settled with the...

February 27, 2007: Bargaining is underway at UPS Freight, formerly Overnite. Nothing less than the future of Teamster Power in trucking is on the line. Rank-and-file Teamsters are launching a campaign to build support for our union’s efforts to win a strong national contract at UPS Freight—and to make sure that the Hoffa administration does not mortgage our future by settling short. Under the slogan Get It Straight at UPS Freight, Teamsters are unifying behind...

February 27, 2007: James Hoffa’s reelection campaign was the subject of a hearing before Election Appeals Master Kenneth Conboy on Feb. 21, after failing to pay $110,000 to consultants hired by the campaign last fall. They claim they are broke, though millionaires on their slate contributed as little as $5, $60, and even zero. The Hoffa Slate twisted the arms of International reps, IBT organizers and staff, and local union officials to collectively kick in...