January 28, 2013: Hundreds of Teamsters packed their union meeting on Sunday to back bylaws reforms and new rights for members in Providence Local 251.

General membership meetings in Providence don't usually look like this. But Teamsters in Local 251 are tired of business as usual.

Hundreds of members packed the monthly membership meeting to deliver petitions signed by more than 1,200 Teamsters.

At the meeting, members officially proposed changes to the Local 251 bylaws to win the right to elect shop stewards and contract negotiating committees and to have a vote on increases in officer salaries.

Petitions were submitted by hospital workers, UPS full-timers and part-timers, freight Teamsters from New Penn and YRC, and Teamsters from local companies like Bradford Soap and Don Mar.

"It's inspiring to see Teamsters from so many different kinds of jobs coming together behind a common goal," said UPS driver Matt Taibi.