January 29, 2009: TDU’s elected leaders met last week to make our plans to educate Teamster members and build the movement to take back our union.

The day-long meeting of the TDU International Steering Committee was held on Jan. 17 in Detroit.

“Many Teamsters who supported Hoffa in the past now realize he is a failure,” said Frank Halstead, a member of the ISC from Los Angeles Local 572.

“TDU is out there giving members hope that we can turn our union around, and a plan to make it happen. If you want to make a difference, now is the time to get involved.”

“If you want to make a difference, now is the time to get involved.” Frank Halstead, Ralphs, Local 572, Los Angeles

Getting the word out. Tens of thousands of Teamsters already read Convoy, TDU’s national newspaper.

TDU members and leaders are taking our newspaper out on the road to meet new Teamsters and expand TDU’s reach. Our goal: increase Convoy circulation by 25 percent this year.

“This week I went out to Yellow to pass out Convoys with another member from our Minnesota TDU Chapter,” said David Kremer, a member of the TDU ISC from Local 320.

“Members were really happy to see us standing out there in 2 below weather to get them the information you can only find in Convoy.”

Teamster education. TDU’s educational workshops and meetings provide Teamsters with the hands-on skills they need to get results in our union.

Teamsters are setting up meetings for members in freight and UPS and workshops on running for local union office, contract enforcement, and the future of Teamster pensions.

The Steering Committee also set the date for the premier Teamster educational event of 2009: the TDU Convention, Nov. 6-8 at the Cleveland Airport Sheraton.

Recruiting to Teamsters for a Democratic Union. Teamsters are joining TDU because they to be a part of a movement that is making a difference in our union. ISC members discussed how to expand TDU recruitment in the new year—and make our movement even more powerful.

“Many members are facing concessions and they aren’t seeing real leadership from our International Union—and many of them are joining TDU,” Kremer said. “Our job as TDU members is to talk to members, ask them to join TDU, and build our movement.”

TDU’s International Steering Committee is made up of Teamster members elected at our annual Convention.

Want to find out more about plans in 2009, and how you can help? Click here to contact Teamsters for a Democratic Union, or call (313) 842-2600.

Do you want to help turn our union around in 2009? Here’s how you can help:

• Get the word out with Convoy. Click here to get a bundle to distribute in your area.


• Hold a meeting. Click here to contact a TDU organizer about having a meeting in your area. Be sure to include your phone number.


• Join TDU. Not a TDU member? Click here to join today. Already a member? Click here to order TDU membership cards you can use to ask other Teamsters to join.