James Hoffa got a nice raise in 2017 to $313,989. In addition, the union pays his personal portion of FICA taxes, and gives him a $60,000 “housing allowance” for a total of $390,983. Plus a multi-million dollar pension.

Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) has learned that the IBT has retained a balloting firm to use electronic voting for the ABF, UPS, and UPS Freight contracts.

UPS CEO David Abney’s pay has more than tripled during the current contract. Last year UPS paid Abney $14.6 million in total compensation, or just over $7,000 an hour. Remember that, when the company pleads poverty in contract negotiations.

ABF and the IBT Freight Division have reached a tentative national agreement. No details have been released to the members.

The members of Los Angeles Local 396 saved their right to elect their shop stewards in a rebuke to Hoffa Vice President Ron Herrera.

The new 9.5 deal tentatively agreed to in contract negotiationst is so weak that UPSers don’t even get back what Hoffa-Hall gave up ten years ago.

A new threat to retirees and workers’ pensions was introduced in Congress last month: the misnamed “Give Retirement Options to Workers” Act. It does not give options to workers, but it could shift risk and uncertainty to some workers, and undermine stable pensions.

Teamsters United has launched a petition drive to demand a fair UPS contract and TDU activists are making plans.

The financial report obtained by Teamsters for a Democratic Union for the Central States Pension Fund indicates that the fund had $15.1 billion in assets as of September 30, 2017. This is down from $15.3 billion at the start of 2017.

(reposted from UPS Teamsters United)
In a nationwide conference call, Fred Zuckerman briefed members on negotiations and announced a UPS Teamsters United petition drive to fight for a good contract.