September 30, 2005: The Teamsters officially left the AFL-CIO on July 25. One day earlier, James Hoffa announced the IBT would boycott the Convention where the AFL-CIO was marking its founding 50 years ago as a united labor federation. On Sept. 27, the Teamsters and seven other unions who are currently part of the Change to Win coalition will formally launch a rival labor federation at a founding convention.

The other Change to Win unions include the SEIU (service employees), UNITE HERE (hotel and garment workers), UFCW (food and commercial workers), the Carpenters, Laborers, and the United Farmworkers.

The Laborers and Farm Workers remained in the AFL-CIO and will participate in both organizations.

This gives the Laborers the right to continue to participate in union structures in the Building Trades. What the Teamster pullout will mean for Teamsters in construction is uncertain. Our construction locals rely on these structures to coordinate and settle disputes with other unions in the building trades

The IBT will save about $9 million a year in per capita dues payments to the AFL-CIO. Half of this will now be spent on dues payments to the new Change to Win federation. The Hoffa administration says the other $4.5 million will be spent on new organizing in our union’s core jurisdictions.

Do you have comments on the Change to Win Coalition? Send you thoughts to:

Teamster Viewpoint
Convoy Dispatch
PO Box 10128
Detroit, MI 48210


Click here: Changing to Win at Overnite?
Click here: AFL-CIO Split? No One Asked Rank and File Teamsters!
Click here: Teamster Viewpoint: Leaving AFL-CIO Threatens Union Solidarity