July 30, 2007: The four-week Waste Management lockout of 500 Teamsters ended on July 29 when members of Oakland Local 70 voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract.
Management took the offensive to force concessions, including on health care, as a first step to attack the big Los Angeles contract that is up this fall.
They miscalculated. The Teamsters got broad support, and as trash piled up, community sentiment turned against Waste Management.
Teamsters, Amazon delivery drivers, and labor allies picketed today on the steps of New York City Hall to support the Delivery Protection Act. City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán announced the bill now has supermajority support in the City Council.
The IBT has launched the Teamster History Project, which includes 27 unedited interviews with Teamsters who made it happen. It covers the years 1975-1999. Those interviewed include several TDU leaders, participants in the Carey administration, James Hoffa, along with two Hoffa lieutenants who were expelled from the union for corruption and self-dealing.
