I am not a TDU member. Most militant and progessive Teamsters are not TDU members because either we disagree with TDU or simply know little about the organization. However, several thousand Teamsters who do not support the policies of James Hoffa and want a more militant and effective labor union "are behind" this group and have joined it.
Just visit their website if you want to know their position on the UPS contract and other issues.
Some trade unionists in all labor unions are "left-wingers" or socialists and other trade unionists are conservatives and even right-wing Bush supporters. There have always been socialists and other radicals in the union movement here and abroad. In fact, socialists have played prominent roles in organizing the union movement during its biggest periods of growth and expanding influence such as during the Great Depression. There also has always been a right-wing in the labor movement. For example, today IBT General President James Hoffa and a small number of union bureaucrats clearly represent the right-wing in organized labor. They are a small minority in the union officialdom.
Now how can right-wingers think it is perfectly all right for them to present their views which are weakening the organized labor movement while they slander those in organized labor who do not support their positions ?
Instead of smearing, slandering and red-baiting those they disagree with they should state their real opinions and political agenda.
I can think of one good reason why many right-wingers shy away from real debate and discussion. Their ideas are shallow and cannot be defended with hard facts and reasoned arguments.