After Electing New Leadership, the Possibilities for the Teamsters Are Enormous

cheryl

I started this.
Staff member
After Electing New Leadership, the Possibilities for the Teamsters Are Enormous - Jacobin

With the victory of a coalition of reformers in the Teamsters, the union has enormous potential to organize Amazon, rebuild strength at shop floors throughout North America, and perhaps even go on strike against UPS.

Big changes are afoot in one of the largest labor unions in North America. Last November, following a three-year campaign, the Teamsters United (TU) slate led by Sean O’Brien defeated the Teamster Power (TP) slate led by Steve Vairma by a two-to-one margin in the election to determine the top leadership of the 1.3-million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Vairma, head of Denver Local 455, had received the endorsement of outgoing incumbent James P. Hoffa, who did not seek reelection after twenty-three years in office. O’Brien, head of Boston Local 25, had the backing of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), the rank-and-file reform movement in the Teamsters.

Although the election was not widely reported, even in a year when workers and their unions managed to make some headlines, it could be one of the most consequential events in recent years for shaping the future of the US labor movement. With members located throughout the transportation and logistics sector, Teamsters can exert power all along the supply chain.
 

worldwide

Well-Known Member
After Electing New Leadership, the Possibilities for the Teamsters Are Enormous - Jacobin

With the victory of a coalition of reformers in the Teamsters, the union has enormous potential to organize Amazon, rebuild strength at shop floors throughout North America, and perhaps even go on strike against UPS.

Big changes are afoot in one of the largest labor unions in North America. Last November, following a three-year campaign, the Teamsters United (TU) slate led by Sean O’Brien defeated the Teamster Power (TP) slate led by Steve Vairma by a two-to-one margin in the election to determine the top leadership of the 1.3-million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Vairma, head of Denver Local 455, had received the endorsement of outgoing incumbent James P. Hoffa, who did not seek reelection after twenty-three years in office. O’Brien, head of Boston Local 25, had the backing of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), the rank-and-file reform movement in the Teamsters.

Although the election was not widely reported, even in a year when workers and their unions managed to make some headlines, it could be one of the most consequential events in recent years for shaping the future of the US labor movement. With members located throughout the transportation and logistics sector, Teamsters can exert power all along the supply chain.
An interesting article from Jacobin magazine, self described as "a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture." Next year will be very interesting as to how the UPS contract plays out. It's new leadership at the Teamsters and essentially a new management committee at UPS, with half of them from outside of UPS and not lifelong UPSers.
 
An interesting article from Jacobin magazine, self described as "a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture." Next year will be very interesting as to how the UPS contract plays out. It's new leadership at the Teamsters and essentially a new management committee at UPS, with half of them from outside of UPS and not lifelong UPSers.
The article should say no more contracts imposed
 

Fuzzy Brown

Well-Known Member
I’m an enthusiastic supporter of O’Brien but if he thinks there is support for a strike to eliminate 22.4s he’s in for a rude awakening.
 

542thruNthru

Well-Known Member
I’m an enthusiastic supporter of O’Brien but if he thinks there is support for a strike to eliminate 22.4s he’s in for a rude awakening.
I don't think most of the members really have the fortitude to strike. I think that most believe it will be a huge blow to UPS and do not realize that means a some what equal blow to us.
 

PASinterference

Yes, I know I'm working late.
I don't think most of the members really have the fortitude to strike. I think that most believe it will be a huge blow to UPS and do not realize that means a some what equal blow to us.
More of a blow to them, with a ridiculous amount of company stock in their pockets compared to the '97 strike. Ups management feeds on stock price. Just visit the partners forum.
 

542thruNthru

Well-Known Member
More of a blow to them, with a ridiculous amount of company stock in their pockets compared to the '97 strike. Ups management feeds on stock price. Just visit the partners forum.
UPS doesn't care about UPS management. That's not really what I meant.

We would lose a lot of work. That means routes gone, lots of lower seniority guys laid off. Depending on supp layoff language maybe not even coming back.

Everyone from 97 says that the strike hurt everyone. I don't see it being better this time around. The other questions is how unified will we be. Just had someone on this thread say they don't care about 22.4s enough to strike.
 

Karma...

Well-Known Member
The 1997 strike was minor compared to the 3 month 1976 strike which I was a part of...Prior to that strike contracts were negotiated piecemeal with different areas of the country going on strike .....The 1976 strike unified the union with a very few exception . One of the big concessions the union won was that finally the pt people could bid into a ft job on a ratio of inside people and outside people......Prior to that pt people had to quit ups and reapply as an outside people .....back then strikers couldn't collect unemployment or work another job and instead had to work under the table........the 1997 strike in august was a nice 3 week summer vacation........The 1976 strike was 3 months from early September to mid (?) December and was serious..
 
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Karma...

Well-Known Member
I should also add that back in my day you had to be a ft college student to be hired pt, each semester bring a letter from the school attesting you were a ft student and once you were not had to quit .That agreement between the union and ups worked out well taking much money in both dues and initiation fee with very little going out......PT people were seen as disposable by both the union and ups.....I am not exactly sure when that requirement and agreement ended .....
 
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I should also add that back in my day you had to be a ft college student to be hired pt, each semester bring a letter from the school attesting you were a ft student and once you were not had to quit .That agreement between the union and ups worked out well taking much money in both dues and initiation fee with very little going out......PT people were seen as disposable by both the union and ups.....I am not exactly sure when that requirement and agreement ended .....
That requirement ended when UPS could not get any more part-time people will work for them...
 

UPSLeftUsAll

New Member
After Electing New Leadership, the Possibilities for the Teamsters Are Enormous - Jacobin

With the victory of a coalition of reformers in the Teamsters, the union has enormous potential to organize Amazon, rebuild strength at shop floors throughout North America, and perhaps even go on strike against UPS.

Big changes are afoot in one of the largest labor unions in North America. Last November, following a three-year campaign, the Teamsters United (TU) slate led by Sean O’Brien defeated the Teamster Power (TP) slate led by Steve Vairma by a two-to-one margin in the election to determine the top leadership of the 1.3-million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Vairma, head of Denver Local 455, had received the endorsement of outgoing incumbent James P. Hoffa, who did not seek reelection after twenty-three years in office. O’Brien, head of Boston Local 25, had the backing of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), the rank-and-file reform movement in the Teamsters.

Although the election was not widely reported, even in a year when workers and their unions managed to make some headlines, it could be one of the most consequential events in recent years for shaping the future of the US labor movement. With members located throughout the transportation and logistics sector, Teamsters can exert power all along the supply chain.
Canadian UPSers should be uniting with the Canadian Truckers Movement.
 
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