Why TDU Backs Teamsters United

The Teamsters United team has shown in action that they are committed to making the changes our union needs.

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For 40 years, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) has been the network of Teamsters working together to make our union strong and democratic. We’ve had victories and defeats, we’ve continued to grow, and we work to bring out the best in the Teamsters Union.

We believe our union is at a crossroads after 17 years of the Hoffa administration. Look at the Hoffa record.  

  • Our national contracts are weakened or broken. Our grievance panels are company dominated.
  • Our pension funds—strong when he took office—are in grave danger.
  • Our organizing program aims for the easiest wins—not building Teamster power.
  • Our members—our best resource—are demoralized and detached from our union.
  • Our efforts to clean up our union are frustrated by Hoffa’s reliance on corrupt power brokers.

But opposing Hoffa is not enough to earn the endorsement of TDU. We are all about a positive program for building Teamster Power.

Why We Back Teamsters United

Teamsters United is led by Fred Zuckerman, who has never been a TDU member, but is a leader who has earned our respect with his stands and his actions in support of Teamster members. Teamsters United is also a diverse team of experienced national leaders, local leaders and new leaders, from all sectors of our union and representing various views.

We need a leadership that can make big changes. A leadership that:

  • mobilizes and informs members, instead of fearing members.
  • has a strategy to win—building and re-building national contracts and national support for local struggles.
  • unites members and locals, instead of silencing dissent.
  • has a plan to build Teamster Power through strategic organizing.
  • involves all Teamsters, including younger Teamsters, retirees, minorities, and women, and promotes new leadership at all levels.
  • defends all Teamster pensions, organizes new members into our pension plans, and uses Teamster political clout to win retirement security.
  • respects Teamster democracy incontract votes and union elections, and that roots out corruption instead of rewarding corrupt power brokers.

The Teamsters United team has shown in action that they are committed to these changes.


Related Articles

Election Appeals Judge Says No to Rerun

The Election Appeals Master issued a ruling today denying members a rerun of the International Union election. Judge Kathleen Roberts declined to overrule the Election Supervisor, saying he could only be overturned for “abuse of discretion” and that the appeal did not meet this high standard. (Reprinted from Teamsters United)

Election Rerun Update

The Teamster Election Supervisor ruled today that the Hoffa administration did not violate the Election Rules when it stonewalled corruption investigations. Teamsters who are demanding a rerun of the 2016 International Union election will now take their case to Judge Kathleen Roberts.

Celebrating Our Victory, Looking Ahead

[Reprinted from Teamsters United] Our movement made history yesterday when six Teamsters United leaders were inaugurated as International Union Vice Presidents at the Teamsters Unity Conference.

Fighting for the Future An Action Plan for Teamsters United

We didn’t form Teamsters United just to win a union election.

Teamsters United International Union Vice-Presidents Voice of the Members, Not a Rubber Stamp

Members who aren’t in lockstep with Hoffa finally have a voice in our International Union leadership.

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