Members are preparing for the next Teamster Convention where majority rule on contracts and our right to fair International Union elections will be on the line.

Every five years, our union holds a Convention. Delegates nominate candidates for International Union office and they vote on changes to the Constitution that can create new membership rights or take members’ rights away.

The 2021 IBT Convention will decide key issues, including the Right to Vote for IBT officers.

Hoffa administration officials have stated they want to change the election rules to make it harder for opposition candidates to get nominated in the future. The goal is to avoid contested future elections.

The next Convention will also decide the future of majority rule on contracts and the Two-Thirds loophole.

Convention History

For much of Teamster history, IBT Conventions took away membership rights. Majority rule on contracts was taken away in 1940; multiple salaries for IBT officials started in 1961; the General President took total control over appointing national negotiating committees in 1966, and more.

After TDU formed, members started to reverse this trend and win new rights.

In 1987, we won a partial end to the hated “Two-Thirds” Rule.

In 1991, TDU helped pass reforms in the constitution to limit multiple salaries for officials, increase strike benefits, establish the right to vote on contract supplements, and members’ right to vote for IBT officers.

How did we win these changes in 1991? By organizing two years in advance, starting in 1989. In local after local, members held meetings and built committees. In 1990 and early 1991, we elected delegates in many locals.

What’s at Stake?

We need to elect an army of delegates to the next Convention to protect our right to vote, eliminate the Two-Thirds Rule, and nominate candidates for new International Union leadership. Some local officers will support these reforms, but others will not.

The delegate elections will start in the fall of 2020, and finish in early 2021. We have just one to two years to organize in every local where the officers won’t stand with the members.

Members in many local unions are preparing now. What about yours?

Contact TDU to find out more and to get help in your local.