January 24, 2011: Imagine what TDU could do with even more members. Can you help make it happen?

Recruit five new members* to TDU by Oct. 1 and we’ll waive your registration fee to the TDU Convention. Click here to order TDU Membership Cards.

*Recruit five members at the normal rate, or 10 part-timers. Be sure to write your name as the sponsor on each new membership card. Return the filled-out cards on the right and dues payments to: TDU, P.O. Box 10128, Detroit, Mich. 48210.

TDU membership is kept confidential. TDU solicits and accepts membership applications and donations only from Teamsters, retired Teamsters and spouses who are not employers.

We asked three TDU members what they do to build our organization. Here’s what they had to say:

Gilbert Clark, UPS, Local 688, St. Louis

How do you introduce people to what TDU’s about?

I tell members that if they want to see a change in our union, they have to participate in making change. And TDU is where you get the information you need and join up with other Teamsters to learn how to do that. Then I bring them to workshops and the TDU Convention so they can see firsthand how important TDU is.

Do you do this by yourself?

No, we’ve got a good team here. We have regular meetings of 30 or 40 members where we share information we get from TDU and what TDU is all about.

Whenever we need to get something out or make calls for a meeting, we divide it up and get it done. We work together to distribute Teamster Voice and other information from TDU. This helps keep people aware of TDU.

David Kremer, Univ. of Minn., Local 320, Minneapolis

What is your advice on how to recruit members to TDU?

You’ve got to ask people to join! And most times, more than once. But that’s not enough. You have find out what issues people are concerned about and connect those with TDU’s information and campaigns.

How do you identify potential TDU members?

Be strategic—think “Who have I been talking to lately about problems at the job? Or in the union?” Make a plan to follow up with them. Our veteran TDU members are asked to identify potential members to invite to meetings or events and they’re responsible for following-up and build a relationship with that person.

Julian Tysh, Sotheby’s, Local 814, New York

How have you been able to build TDU in Local 814?

I always tell the brothers and sisters from my local, to check out TDU. You can’t be a serious trade unionist without taking your education seriously. TDU provides you with that education.

TDU always advances the principles of democracy and member-to-member organization that helped the New Directions Slate get elected and are now helping us rebuild our local. When members come to a TDU training, they see TDU and 814 promoting the same ideas: Getting involved in your union, educating yourself, and becoming an organizer.

TDU has grown in Local 814 because our members appreciate the education that TDU provides. With many important battles on the horizon, TDU has helped us build a more committed and better educated rank-and-file army.

Looking for a Change

We are steadily making progress running for delegate in Local 690. We have a slate nominated and plans for a mailing and a phone bank. And we are out talking with Teamsters.

More members are open to TDU and our message than ever before. Leadership is poor in the local. Times are tough. People are looking for a change.

John Lattanzio
YRC, Local 690
Spokane

Not His Father’s Teamster Leader

I started with Yellow in 2001. My dad retired in 1998 and worked for Yellow 32 years.

My dad is a James Riddle Hoffa supporter. ME TOO!

I just want James Riddle’s son James P. out! James P. is riding his dad’s coat tails.

James Riddle Hoffa will come back to avenge himself someday! If we support Sandy Pope for Teamster General President!

Mike Eppler
YRC, Local 407
Cleveland

December 27, 2010: Corporate America was on the attack in 2010. But Teamsters were coming together and standing up for our rights.

Find out what the made TDU’s best and worst list in 2010.

Fed up with Hoffa’s givebacks and empty promises, Teamsters are building a campaign to vote out Hoffa in 2011 and put our union in a new direction.

“Members are saying YES to our campaign because they want a General President who will say NO to employers when they come after our jobs, our wages and our benefits,” Pope said.

<< Previous: BLET Members Save the Right to Vote
Next: The Worst—Hoffa Waves the White Flag at UPS >>

Happy holidays to you and your family from Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

TDU members have worked hard and have a lot to be proud of this year.

Let’s enjoy the holidays and resolve to work together for a stronger union and a new direction in 2011.

January 3, 2011: What should TDU be doing in 2011? We asked Frank Halstead, a co-chair of TDU’s International Steering Committee, the leadership body that was elected at the TDU Convention in November.

Teamster Voice: Why do we need TDU in 2011?

Hoffa and his administration have failed Teamsters in every possible way. They’re failing at the bargaining table. And then they’re failing to enforce the weak deals they negotiate.

They’re failing to involve the members in their own union, and help build a strong union for the future. They’re failing to organize.

TDU is the only organized group that members can seek help from when the leadership is failing them.

Voice: What is TDU’s job this year?

Change looks like active, informed members participating in their union. Fighting for better contracts. Enforcing the contracts they work under. Organizing nonunion workers. Being directly involved in all levels of our union.

TDU has the tools to help members get involved and make this change real. But many members aren’t aware of TDU’s existence, or they don’t know how helpful TDU can be.

Our job this year is to go out and talk to these members, listen to their issues, and help them get involved in our movement.

We’re doing that right now in Southern California, where our TDU chapter is sponsoring a new series of workshops in Spanish on legal rights in the union and writing and presenting grievances.

Voice: What will it take to win the election and get rid of Hoffa?

During the petition campaign, I heard more than ever before Teamsters saying that we need change.

If we’re going to win, we need to turn those feelings into action and organization. It’s going to take a grassroots army, going member to member and building support for Sandy.

That’s what TDU does best.

TDU can’t do it all on our own. We need to build big alliances and reach out to all Teamsters who see that we need new leadership.

But TDU gives us the tools to go out there and get the job done.

If we want to win this election, and get the good quality leadership we all deserve, then we need to talk to members about TDU and ask them to join.

December 20, 2010: Teamsters raised more than $50,000 for the TDU movement and the Sandy Pope Campaign at our annual TDU Convention. We’ll need that money—and more—to dump Hoffa in 2011 and build the stronger union Teamster members need.

We have this opportunity to elect new leadership because of a battle fought and won by TDU members across the country. It’s because of TDU that we also have the right to vote on contracts (and reject bad ones) and won historic pension benefits in the 1990s.

The fight for a stronger, more democratic and mobilized Teamsters union continues. New York Teamster activists are winning office and organizing new programs to unite members and win on the job. Activists in Cincinnati Local 100 just won office, and Vermont bus drivers are uniting for a better contract. Everywhere from Puerto Rico to Chicago, Los Angeles to Rhode Island, TDU members are coming together to take on the boss and take back their union.

We’re as active as we’ve ever been—but we have a chance to make history in 2011 and we need to be doing a lot more.

We need to dedicate 2011 to building TDU. That means recruiting more new members—and raising the funds needed to organize the movement to take back our union.

TDU is our rank-and-file organization, funded entirely by memberships and donations from committed Teamsters.

We need your support. Please do your part today by making a generous donation to building TDU and a stronger Teamsters union.

A monthly credit card pledge is the easiest and best way to make a regular commitment to supporting TDU. You can set up your pledge or make a secure online one-time donation here or by calling us at 313-842-2600.

Thanks for all your hard work and your support of TDU.

Gina Alvarez, Local 743
Willie Hardy, Local 667
David Kremer, Local 320

Hear from new members about why they joined TDU. And find out how you can help make a difference, too.

Winning with TDU

“When we were organizing to take back our local, we turned to TDU leaders and TDU’s knowledge and experience to help us understand what works and what doesn’t.

“Now we’re taking those tools to win strikes and better contracts for Local 814 members.

“Our union needs TDU. Join TDU if you want a stronger Teamsters union.”

Anthony Meyers, Globe Local 814, New York

Involving Members

“Our local tries to keep the members uninformed. I joined TDU because of the information it provides and it’s hard work to involve members in building a better union.

“I went to my first TDU Convention this year. It was a life-changing experience. I still feel the affirmation and solidarity from being around so many good Teamsters from across the country. I’m really proud I joined TDU.”

Darren Suell, UPS Local 104, Phoenix

Education for a Stronger Union

“After years of hearing too much hypocrisy from our local officials, I met some honest and real Teamsters here in L.A.–and they’re TDU members.

“I started reading Teamster Voice and went to a Southern California TDU Chapter meeting. I learned more there than I ever learned from all the dog-and-pony-show meetings of our local union.

“I went to my first TDU Convention in November and joined. If you want real information and education you can use to build a stronger union, you should join too.”

Lupe Hernandez, Ralphs Grocery Local 63, Los Angeles

Do your part. Click here to join TDU today.

Are you running for delegate to the Teamster Convention, or other union office? Then TDU’s new book Running for Local Union Office is for you.

Hear from Teamsters like you who ran for delegate or local union office—and won.

This comprehensive guide includes:

• a campaign timeline

• how Teamster elections work

• picking your slate

• campaigning do’s and don’ts

• leaflets, mailings, websites, and more

• raising money

• getting a clean election

• getting out the vote

• dealing with negative attacks

• and much more

Click here to order you copy today.

To complete convention registration, of for questions regarding the Convention, contact the TDU staff in Chicago. The hotel phone number is 773-693-5800; ask for the O'Hare Boardroom, which is the TDU convention office.

-- The TDU Steering Committee and Staff.