Midwest Teamsters win surprise victory, force gov't not to slash their pensions
June 8, 2016  | In a stunning demonstration of the power of grassroots organizing, retired Teamster union members across the Midwest have forced the federal government to back down on plans to slash pensions on thousands of retired workers. The initial decision in favor of the retired truck drivers came May 6. Karen Friedman, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Pension Rights Center, credited an effective media relations effort and constituent-contact campaign from grassroots retiree groups in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and elsewhere, for blocking the cuts...? inthesetimes.com

US Foods and one of two Teamster locals reach agreement over warehouse closure
June 10, 2016  | US Foods and at a Severn distribution center have reached an agreement over the planned closure of the facility, the company said Thursday. Members of Local 570 ratified the agreement Wednesday night, the company said in a statement… Denis Taylor, president of Teamsters Local 355, said Thursday that US Foods drivers represented by that local have not reached an agreement with the company and continue to picket. "We're still hoping to reach an agreement," Taylor said. baltimoresun.com Note: The fight with US Foods in Baltimore and elsewhere is not over. Local 355's strike line remains in place, and other strategic actions will continue until US Foods comes to a fair and just agreement with the union.

Union's leafletting campaign takes port misclassification fight national
June 13, 2016  | Members of the Teamsters union, in their constant battle to end truck driver misclassification, are taking part in a national leafletting action at XPO/Con-way terminals. The action coincides with recent strikes at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach and in San Diego, where misclassification is rampant. Earlier this month, the Teamsters called on the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach to ban trucking companies who misclassify employees… wepartypatriots.com

Teamsters make history with FedEx Freight to negotiate first time contract
June 17, 2016  | The Teamsters Union made history yesterday when it met with representatives of FedEx Freight to kick off contract negotiations for Local 107 workers in the Philadelphia area. It is the first time the union sat down with a FedEx operating unit for talks. Today, Local 71 in Charlotte will begin negotiation with FedEx Freight, where drivers in Charlotte, N.C. voted to join Local 71.

Political power, global solidarity talk dominates at International Convention
June 29, 2016  | Politics and policy were front and center during the first day of the Teamsters 29th International Convention in Las Vegas as thousands of Teamsters lauded the union’s support for a platform that calls for more infrastructure investment and election contributions by members while calling out lawmakers who would ship jobs overseas or hamper collective bargaining. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa told attendees the last five years have been a time of success for the union. The second day focused on global solidarity and building worker power through organizing in key industries, and covered a number of priorities for workers. Delegates also passed resolutions yesterday on executive pay/Capital Strategies; freight organizing; warehouse organizing; and port organizing. Nominations took place for At Large Vice Presidents and Trustees.. More at teamsters.org

Convention delegates join in show of solidarity, support
June 30, 2016  | Yesterday, Teamsters at the union's 29th International Convention united behind a Teamster family in Akron, Ohio, and pledged more than $1.4 million to help fund a drug treatment facility. The facility will honor the son of Local 24 President Travis Bornstein, who died of a prescription-drug overdose in 2014. (Learn more here.) Other business during the third day of the convention included the passage of a resolution in support of continuing work to protect the retirement security of Teamster members and retirees, and nominations for regional vice presidents. teamster.org