Today in Labor History

DEC. 13, 1924
Samuel Gompers died at the age of 74. Gompers served as president of the American Federation of Labor from 1886 to 1894 and from 1895 to his death. What does labor want? Gompers said, “We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more constant work and less crime; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful and childhood more happy and bright.”
~ Voices of Labor

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Applications now being accepted for the JRHM Scholarship
The application process is now open for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund's 2020 college and vocational scholarship programs for the sons, daughters and financial dependents of Teamsters. In 2019, $1.2 million was awarded in academic scholarships for the children of Teamster members, including Ashley Goudy, daughter of a Local 355 retired UPS Teamster. Many scholarships to support the costs of vocational/trade school programs were also awarded. Visit the scholarship fund's website for information on who is eligible to apply and how to apply. The application deadline is March 2, 2020.

Hoffa’s statement on death of UPS member Frank Ordonez
Dec. 9, 2019 | General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement on the tragic death of Teamsters Local 769 member Frank Ordonez in Miami this week: “The thoughts and prayers of the 1.4 million members of the Teamsters Union are with Brother Ordonez’s family, friends, colleagues and fellow Local 769 members. Teamster members go to work each day planning to return home safe to their friends and families and we are deeply saddened when a tragedy such as this occurs. Our union is strong because of the ties that bind us as brothers and sisters at work, and also as a family. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. We pledge to do all we can to assist the family of Brother Ordonez."

Tune in to Teamsters presidential forum on worker issues
Dec. 6, 2019 | The townhall event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, December 7 at 2 PM Central will be live-streamed on our Facebook page, Twitter @Teamsters, our YouTube channel, TeamstersVote.com and on Teamster.org. Six 2020 presidential candidates are confirmed to attend. We'll be asking them about the key issues affecting workers like you - including pensions, trade policy, and collective bargaining rights - and making sure they fight for the Teamsters vote. Be a part of the conversation – RSVP to watch live here: www.ibt.io/12-7rsvp #Teamsters2020

Teamsters Local 769 mourns tragic shooting of UPS driver in Miami
Dec. 6, 2019 | The following statement from Teamsters Local 769 is in regard to the tragic shooting of a UPS driver in Miami yesterday. “It is with a heavy heart that I write this statement this evening. We are heartbroken by the tragic events from earlier today regarding one of our Teamsters Local 769 members (UPS Driver), who was carjacked while doing his job. He was ultimately victimized in a shootout after a lengthy police pursuit with the carjackers. The cowardly actions of the criminals involved that chose to kidnap this hard-working young man to give themselves some type of “cover” or “shield” are precisely the opposite of what Teamster men and women are and stand for. We pray for the family of this young man, and as further information is available we will, of course, provide those details for Teamster members to show and provide support to his family.”

Older news items are posted at 992 News.

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Worker Noncompete Agreements Tamp Down on Wages

Dec. 11, 2019 | WAGES | Anyone who’s been paying attention understands that while there is no shortage of jobs, there is a shortage of good-paying jobs. And part of the reason for that is because at least 36 million workers are required to enter into noncompete agreements as part of their jobs, stifling their ability to earn more... A new Economic Policy Institute document is an in-depth look at the wide-ranging use of noncompete agreements, which are employment provisions that ban workers at one company from working for or starting a competing business within a set period time after leaving a job… Teamsters

Labor Group Accuses Google of Illegally Firing Workers to Stifle Unionism

Dec. 10, 2019 | ORGANIZING | The Communications Workers of America union filed a federal labor charge against Alphabet’s Google on Thursday, accusing the company of unlawfully firing four employees to deter workers from engaging in union activities. The complaint will trigger a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigation into whether Google violated the four individuals’ right to collectively raise concerns about working conditions. Google fired the four named employees “to discourage and chill employees from engaging in protected concerted and union activities,” the filing states. “Its actions are the antithesis of the freedoms and transparency it publicly touts.” Google did not respond to a request for comment on the filing, though it has said the four workers were let go for violating the company’s data-security policies… Unions.org

As They Pitch the Teamsters, Democratic Presidential Candidates Try to Avoid 2016 Pitfalls

Dec. 9, 2019 | VOTE2020 | [....] "This time," [Hoffa] said before a Teamsters' forum with six Democratic presidential candidates in Iowa on Saturday, "we're seeing a lot more dialogue (from Democrats). And a lot more interest from the principal candidates." Biased though he may be, Hoffa said Donald Trump is president because he connected with working-class candidates. During his campaign, Trump mocked the union, saying he was tearing them apart. Some members wanted to endorse the Republican. The Teamsters, in fact, endorsed Hillary Clinton three months before the general election. But on Saturday, Hoffa said Clinton was a bad candidate. He believes this year's crop of Democrats is stronger. "You can’t take labor for granted…” Des Moines Register