Teamsters Organize 40,000 New Members in 2008

December 3, 2008: The International Union announced it will achieve the organizing goal of 40,000 new members in 2008.

UPS Freight was the single largest company organized by our union this year. Twelve thousand UPS Freight drivers and dockworkers joined the Teamsters this year. More than 8,700 First Student workers also joined the Teamsters this year as well as 8,500 United Airlines mechanics.

We’ll have the chance to maintain this momentum in the coming year by pushing for Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for workers to form a union. Teamsters need to be in the front lines pushing for this legislation’s passage.

More Teamster organizing can mean more Teamster Power if we win strong contracts that bring the nonunion competition up to union scale.

At UPS Freight, the new contract allowed the company to keep the 12,000 new Teamsters out of union pension and medical plans. UPS Freight also maintained substandard work rules that other Teamster freight employers pushed for and won in the 2008 National Master Freight Contract.

It’s good to see the membership numbers of our Teamsters Union growing. We can grow Teamster Power too—passing the Employee Free Choice Act, organizing the nonunion competition in our core industries, and launching strategic contract campaigns to bring newly organized companies up to union scale.

Click here to sign a petition in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

Webinar: Getting the Goods to Win Your UPS Grievance

In this webinar, you'll learn proven strategies to win grievances at UPS, and how to deal with retaliation from management. Review how to document your case to win a good settlement and be prepared if the case goes to panel. Register for the webinar on Sunday, March 16 at 12 PM ET / 11 AM CT / 10 AM MT / 9 AM PT.

Resources: Hunting Season and Your Rights at UPS

Peak season is over. But a new year brings new problems: Surepost chaos, production harassment, and petty discipline. Teamster members joined our webinar to learn tried and true strategies to protect yourself and fight discipline. Watch it here, then scroll for resources.

View More News Posts