August 1, 2008: Little progress has been made in negotiations for a new contract covering freight Teamsters in Local 705. Members overwhelmingly passed a strike authorization vote and lent their support to the bargaining committee.
However representatives for Yellow, Roadway, Holland, and ABF are stonewalling the union. The next negotiating sessions are scheduled for August 5 and 7. Updates are posted at www.teamsterslocal705.org.
Hundreds of Teamsters in SoCal 572 have filed a petition and group grievance to demand that UPS address health and safety concerns and a shortage of safe parking after a driver was run over and killed at UPS in Gardena one week before Thanksgiving.
O’Brien-Zuckerman Teamsters United didn’t mince words about the choice in the election. They told members if they liked the union’s direction under Hoffa to vote for Vairma and challenged members who want to fight the employers to vote Teamsters United. The result was a two-to-one rout. Here are five ways to turn the election victory into member engagement and union power.
