August 23, 2007: “It is the Teamsters’ pension—and particularly the multi-employer plan—that gives the union much of its draw and power, industry observers say.” —Traffic World Magazine, August 17, 2007.

Every Teamster officer should know that, and most of them do. So why isn’t there a huge outcry from our union leaders against UPS’s move to split the Central States Pension Plan?

Where are the leaders in the Freight Division and our International Vice Presidents?

Where are the heads of Joint Councils and local unions within the Central and Southern Regions?

The silence from the Teamster leadership is deafening. Why is it left to TDU, the reform movement, to lead the fight in basic defense of our pension plans?

Most Teamster officers know that letting UPS leave the Central States fund will weaken our union’s power against management and hurt our members —but they remain silent. There’s a word for this silence: cowardice. This union was not built on fear. It’s time for officers to stand up and be counted.