Inflation rose by 12.7% in just two years from 2021 to 2022. The rising cost of living left Teamsters and other workers falling behind.  

It’s time to catch up and make employers show us the money. Put these proven tactics to work in your local to fight for a better contract and win.

Rank and File on Bargaining Committees

The Teamsters Constitution now requires that every contract negotiating committee include rank-and-file members, thanks to a reform that we won at the last Teamsters Convention.

“At the end of each bargaining session, we meet with the negotiating committee and make a plan to update members on negotiations,” said Juan Campos, IBT Vice President At-Large and principal officer of Chicago Local 705. 

“There’s no closed-door negotiations in our local. Members have a right to know what’s at stake in their negotiations. They will step up and stick together, but they need to know what’s happening,” Campos said.

Contract Action Teams

Even the best negotiating committee can’t win a good contract by itself. Management is always testing to see if members support the bargaining committee’s demands.

A contract campaign builds the union’s bargaining leverage by involving members in a series of escalating actions. 

In larger bargaining units, locals may organize a Contract Action Team to coordinate the contract campaign. 

“We’re gearing up early for contract negotiations for 2,500 members at Rhode Island Hospital,” said shop steward Jorge Olarte. “TDU is helping us organize a Contract Action Team to build our contract campaign.”

While the bargaining committee is at the negotiating table, the Contract Action Team takes the lead in informing and mobilizing members by passing out bargaining updates, circulating a Contract Unity Pledge, holding parking-lot meetings, and organizing members to wear buttons and attend contract rallies.

Management needs to see that members are ready to reject a bad contract and take action to win a fair agreement.

A key is to start with small actions that are easy to participate in like filling out a contract survey or a Contract Unity Pledge and escalating to bolder actions like rallies, strike authorization votes or practice picketing. 

Practice Picketing

The UPS contract campaign revived “practice picketing” as a contract campaign tactic in 2023.

“Practice picketing was awesome,” said Local 804 alternate steward and UPS driver Dave Carew. “It put pressure on the company, it took our message to the public. And, it was fun! 

“Cars were honking in support, members were laughing, management was fuming. It built unity, broke down fear, and reminded members of the power in our hands.”

Practice picketing has spread from UPS to warehousing, beverage, dairy, Costco, passenger transportation and more.

$1,000 Strike Benefits

The IBT has more than $350 million in the Strike Fund, and our union is putting this dues money behind members fighting for the contracts they deserve. 

The International Union has approved strike benefits of $1,000 a week to help members win when our employers force us to go out on strike.  

“We were on strike for nine weeks against Continental Cafe. Management thought they could wait us out,” said Rhonda Banks, the chief shop steward and an Indiana Local 135 Teamster. 

“Strike benefits started on day one, and every single member did our part at the picket line.” 

“When the IBT increased our strike benefits to $1,000 a week, we knew we could stick it out. Not only did our strike benefits make it possible for us to pay our bills, it also showed members that the union has our back to fight for a decent contract.”

No Closed-Door Negotiations

“There’s no closed-door negotiations in our local. Members have a right to know what’s at stake in their negotiations. They will step up and stick together, but they need to know what’s happening.”

Juan Campos
IBT Vice President At-Large
Principal Officer, Local 705, Chicago

$1,000 Strike Benefits

“Management thought they could wait us out. When the IBT increased our strike benefits to $1,000 a week, we knew we could stick it out. Not only did our strike benefits make it possible for us to pay our bills, it also showed members that the union has our back to fight for a decent contract.”

Rhonda Banks
Chief Steward, Continental Cafe

Get Help Winning a Strong Contract

“TDU is there to help Teamsters build a winning contract campaign from the bottom up. If you want to win a strong contract with rank-and-file power, contact TDU.”

Mataya Hayes
Steward, MV Transportation
Local 572, Los Angeles