Three Showdowns Reveal How to Beat Concessions and How Concessions Beat Us

June 1, 2010: Teamsters can beat givebacks, even in a tough economy. Just ask the members at ABF.

ABF Teamsters united and soundly rejected a 15% pay cut that was promoted by both the corporation and the Hoffa administration.

Too often, when employers demand givebacks, the Hoffa administration comes to members with a sales pitch and excuses, instead of a plan to win.

When another major Teamster employer, Coca-Cola, demanded contract concessions, it looked like it might be a different story.

The IBT threatened to take nationally coordinated strike action to stop Coke from moving toward nonunion, third-party distribution.

Local officers united behind the plan to save Teamster jobs. Our union had the leverage to win. Instead, the IBT caved and gave the green light to a deal that puts Teamster jobs at risk.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Our union can win good contracts even in a bad economy. Local 814 members have done just that.

These Teamsters elected new leadership and launched a contract campaign to put an end to givebacks and rebuild their union’s power.

Now they’re celebrating a contract that restores healthcare cuts, saves their pensions and delivers major wage increases to the lowest-paid members.

Our union has the power to stop givebacks. Members need to get involved and demand that our leaders use the leverage we have to win the contracts we deserve.

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

Yellow Terminals Sold for $1.9 Billion – XPO and Estes are Big Buyers

Most of Yellow’s terminal properties closed at auction on December 4, with XPO the biggest buyer, paying $870 million or nearly half of the $1.9 billion that the 128 properties yielded. XPO bought 28 properties and Estes bought 24.

Online Workshop: From Contract Campaign to Contract Enforcement

Hear from UPS Teamsters and guest speaker Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien about moving from contract campaign to contract enforcement this Sunday, December 10 at 12 PM EST/11 AM CT/10 AM MT/9AM PT. Register now.

View More News Posts