A Teamster shop steward exposes unfair employer

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdpxCtiJ8_sKPqYJxENbSEWQUxB9QxMWihXYBC1xVLZ7pt5HlZ688GawRHso0fUX_nTQ7ToeHCWdbI04nbax_AuMugLbijZn3zJlPgsRQto89P-CPe2MW_4LkVABiLUeLjm_d0Gz35BwY/s1600/teamster+steward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdpxCtiJ8_sKPqYJxENbSEWQUxB9QxMWihXYBC1xVLZ7pt5HlZ688GawRHso0fUX_nTQ7ToeHCWdbI04nbax_AuMugLbijZn3zJlPgsRQto89P-CPe2MW_4LkVABiLUeLjm_d0Gz35BwY/s320/teamster+steward.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamster Local 439 members and Brother Joseph Trujillo,<br />shop steward.</td></tr></tbody></table>Our <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamster</a> brother Joseph Trujillo is a shop steward from <a href="http://www.teamsters439.com/index.html" rel="nofollow">Teamster Local 439</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California" rel="nofollow">Stockton, Calif.</a>, and he asked us to help expose the unfairness of an employer.<br /><br />We're happy to oblige:<br /><br />Here's what Brother Trujillo told us: <br /><blockquote>My fellow Brotherhood. I'm a shop steward out of Local 439. We are in negotiations for a new contract, but the company is trying to railroad us out of our health and welfare as well as wage increases. The company is <a href="http://www.uscold.com/" rel="nofollow">UNITED STATES COLD STORAGE</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy,_California" rel="nofollow">Tracy, Calif</a>. </blockquote><blockquote>Here are the details, Our contract expired March 1, 2012. We have been through numerous negotiating meetings, as the company has been very adamant in wanting US to give up our Teamsters healthcare, and go with their company plan only because it will cost them less -- as well as only offering US a 20-cent increase upon signing ratification.  </blockquote><blockquote>We've been persistent and have given them a final proposal to stick with our NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GENERAL TEAMSTERS FUND PLAN, and there is still their issue with the new Obamacare argument. It has upset ALL members here at OUR Tracy, Calif., plant, and it's an insult of only a 20-cent increase with no backpay!</blockquote>We constantly hear about these kinds of attacks on workers. It's time to <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/stopthewaronworkers" rel="nofollow">stop the war on workers</a>! <br /><br /><ul class="uiList body contentListWidth _4kg" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 12.727272033691406px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="border-width: 0px;"></li></ul><br />

439 negotiations Teamsters A Teamster shop steward exposes unfair employer

Teamster Local 439 members and Brother Joseph Trujillo, shop steward. Our Teamster brother Joseph Trujillo is a shop steward from  Teamster...

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Woot! TPP looks dead for this year

It may well be time for <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> to celebrate. The secret <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/11/TPP-not-about-trade.html" rel="nofollow">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a>, also known as the TPP, looks to be dead this year!<br /><br />A key U.S. House of Representatives leader said yesterday there isn't enough time left on the calendar to pass <strike>a fast one</strike> '<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/10/teamsters-lobby-against-tpp.html" rel="nofollow">fast track' legislation</a>. 'Fast track' is just a euphemism for 'rubber stamp,' and without a rubber stamp, the <a href="http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/19843-trans-pacific-partnership-we-will-not-obey-building-a-global-resistance-movement-to-transnational-corporate-power" rel="nofollow">TPP will not pass</a>.<br /><br />Here's why: If people knew what was in the TPP, they'd throw everyone who voted for it out of office. It's a deal to destroy democracy, empower corporations, lower wages, censor the Internet, raise the price of medicine and undermine food safety. Giant corporations have been let in on the negotiations, but the American public has not. Even members of Congress are only allowed tiny peeks at the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/alan-grayson-trans-pacific-partnership_n_3456167.html" rel="nofollow">TPP texts</a>. <br /><br />Fortunately, <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2013/11/congress-may-have-killed-the-trans-pacific-partnership/" rel="nofollow">Congress may have already killed the TPP</a> by sending two letters opposing fast track. They were signed by 173 lawmakers, 151 Democrats and 22 Republicans.  <br /><br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-trade-tpa-20131119,0,7297542.story" rel="nofollow">Reuters</a> reports, <blockquote>The Obama administration's hopes of securing "fast-track" trade negotiating authority from Congress this year look certain to be dashed given the limited time left on the congressional calendar, the No. 2 House Democrat said on Tuesday. </blockquote><blockquote>The administration wants Congress to quickly pass Trade Promotion Authority, or TPA, to help it secure a trade agreement with 11 other Pacific Rim nations, including Australia, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico. </blockquote><blockquote>"I don't realistically see TPA moving," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters, saying that Congress would likely be busy with other bills during the eight working days it has left in 2013.</blockquote>Of course, there's always next year....<br /><br />

fast track Teamsters TPP Woot! TPP looks dead for this year

It may well be time for Teamsters to celebrate. The secret Trans-Pacific Partnership , also known as the TPP, looks to be dead this year! A...

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Teamsters score major victory over sleep apnea guidance

Here's good news for Teamster truck drivers and anyone who turns a key for a living: <a href="http://www.teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters </a>who might be at risk for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea" rel="nofollow">sleep apnea</a> won't have to undergo costly tests or lose time at work because of federal regulators.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters successfully lobbied Congress to force<a href="http://fmcsa.dot.gov/" rel="nofollow"> federal trucking regulators</a> to set strict guidelines for when they can require screening, testing and treatment for sleep apnea.<br /><br />The House and Senate passed the bill unanimously, and President Obama signed it into law earlier this week. Now, federal regulators will have to listen to the Teamsters, owner-operators, trucking and bus associations and YOU before issuing regulations on sleep apnea.<br /><br />This is a good thing because regulators were coming up with "guidance" for testing and treating sleep apnea for truckers and other CDL holders. That "guidance" could have cost commercial truck drivers thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. It could have cost them their jobs.<br /><br />The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) actually stated that 28 percent of CDL holders have sleep apnea. FMCSA's guidance in 2012 set arbitrary standards -- like 17-inch necks and certain body mass indexes -- that would have forced many Teamsters to go through the potentially costly testing.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> Teamsters General President <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/james-p-hoffa">James P. Hoffa</a> said in a <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-stop-fmcsa-attack-truck-drivers" rel="nofollow">statement</a>, We cannot allow federal regulators to make uninformed decisions that will cost millions of people a lot of money that they can’t afford to spend right now... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">This law, which passed the House with a unanimous vote, protects millions of working men and women who turn a key for a living from being forced to spend money on a test they may not need at the whim of a federal agency.</blockquote>The new law won't absolutely prevent doctors from referring certain drivers for testing during their medical exams, it will postpone mandatory screening for three years or more.  During that time, you can be sure the Teamsters' voices will be heard!<br />

Congress FMCSA sleep apnea Teamsters Teamsters score major victory over sleep apnea guidance

Here's good news for Teamster truck drivers and anyone who turns a key for a living:  Teamsters who might be at risk for sleep apnea wo...

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Teamster BAs tell lawmakers not to pull a fast one on trade deal

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-2LOgsz5MkG7xikq0wSOJAjOOEoLCWou0pSgi2AFk0ET76eC9ZBP5K_gg0KqN9MFxJtqes0xmRxYHeduj-Wne7C0lC1kB1jyg1Wf7-0qI7YmzIcXZ006RdmenXSjBV52906saklWIbUe/s1600/Susan+Del+Bene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-2LOgsz5MkG7xikq0wSOJAjOOEoLCWou0pSgi2AFk0ET76eC9ZBP5K_gg0KqN9MFxJtqes0xmRxYHeduj-Wne7C0lC1kB1jyg1Wf7-0qI7YmzIcXZ006RdmenXSjBV52906saklWIbUe/s400/Susan+Del+Bene.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rep. <a href="http://delbene.house.gov/" rel="nofollow">Suzan DelBene</a>, D-Wash., meets with Teamster business agents: <br />(LtoR: Sal Golfo, Teamsters Local 272, Debbie Gath, Teamsters Local 38, <br />Michael Dolan, IBT legislative representative, DelBene, Troy Gustafson,<br />Teamsters Local 120.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Teamster business agents visited their congressional representatives in Washington last week to tell them to vet every word of the TPP trade deal to make sure it doesn't harm American families.<br /><br />The TPP, or <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/03/tpp-power-grab-by-corporations-and-1.html" rel="nofollow">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a>, is a massive trade deal that's been<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175865/keeping-massive-trade-deal-out-fast-lane#" rel="nofollow"> negotiated in extreme secrecy</a> -- well, except for corporate lobbyists, who have access to negotiators and negotiating texts.<br /><br />TPP supporters want <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress" rel="nofollow">Congress</a> to vote on the deal without reading it carefully, without amending it and with only debating it for a short time. That's called "fast track" authority, and Congress has to approve fast track authority before it can ram through the TPP. Teamster business agents went to the Capitol to tell lawmakers to vote against fast track.<br /><br />By the way, we think you know why politicians in the pocket of big business want fast track authority: They don't want the public to know they're passing a trade deal that sends more good American jobs overseas, lowers wages here, shuts down factories, censors the Internet and undermines our food safety laws.<br /><br />We're not crying wolf here. Politico Pro just reported members of Congress are hoping to set up a "Friends of TPP" caucus soon. Reports Politico Pro:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The group will act as a sounding board for lawmakers on the massive Pacific Rim trade deal, which the Obama administration is trying to close by the end of the year.</blockquote>Here's the good news, also from Politico Pro:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">It remains unclear how a fast-track bill would move through Congress or if the administration will formally request the legislation.</blockquote>The <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> will remain vigilant.

fast-track Teamsters TPP Teamster BAs tell lawmakers not to pull a fast one on trade deal

Rep. Suzan DelBene , D-Wash., meets with Teamster business agents: (LtoR: Sal Golfo, Teamsters Local 272, Debbie Gath, Teamsters Local 38, M...

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Teamster women get fired up at New Orleans conference

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQTni6Gg7hT6Sz9tMAwJIgFO9LTSAs4L5fQsEsxZkk_Uw9At3yveDEltmfFM0-kYNgf584Cuwg6OYbXm25vAGti4oc9_dgas8fr4TL7lWFvLE-f-fNnWTHgJzdGR7q-1m8Ifcv4k_May/s1600/women's+conference+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQTni6Gg7hT6Sz9tMAwJIgFO9LTSAs4L5fQsEsxZkk_Uw9At3yveDEltmfFM0-kYNgf584Cuwg6OYbXm25vAGti4oc9_dgas8fr4TL7lWFvLE-f-fNnWTHgJzdGR7q-1m8Ifcv4k_May/s400/women's+conference+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamster women find sisterhood is powerful!</td></tr></tbody></table>One thousand Teamster women -- the most ever -- are in New Orleans through Saturday to re-energize for the next year of battles against the enemies of working people.<br /><br />Commentator Donna Brazile, a New Orleans native, fired up the crowd during the opening session today with a rock 'em, sock 'em speech about the attacks on workers. Brazile said the battle we're fighting is unlike anything she's ever seen. She had special scorn for Congress, who, she said, "is picking on people who are too busy working two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet."<br /><br />"Get your butt out and vote," she implored the Teamster women.<br /><br />(Brazile's cousin, by the way, is a member of Teamsters Local 279 in New Orleans.)<br /><br />She echoed Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa's message. "There's a war on workers and a war on women," he said.<br /><br />That war looks the same, he said, wherever right-wing governors are attacking workers: in Ohio, with Gov. John Kasich, in Wisconsin, with Gov. Scott Walker, in Michigan, with Gov. Rick Snyder.<br /><br />Becky Strzechoski, director of the Teamsters Women's Conference, led the general session with a warning that the attacks on workers so prevalent in the United States are bleeding into Canada. And she reminded the crowd that a Teamsters contract is gender neutral.<br /><br />Teamster women will spend most of the next two days at workshops, learning about tools and tactics to use in fighting the war on workers -- and women.<br /><br /><br />

Teamsters Women's Conference Teamster women get fired up at New Orleans conference

Teamster women find sisterhood is powerful! One thousand Teamster women -- the most ever -- are in New Orleans through Saturday to re-energi...

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Marquez workers to continue fight for Teamsters

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-union bosses at the Marquez Brothers cheese facility in Hanford, Calif., have thrown everything at their Teamster workers in an effort to crack their resolve. But employees there are not backing down.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though the unscrupulous employer recently decided against recognizing the union, </span><a href="http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/marquez-union-supporters-press-on-despite-setbacks/article_2247ffe6-1fb0-11e3-a9ef-0019bb2963f4.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">workers on Oct. 4 will vote</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to continue their fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. The company has not bargained in good faith since workers decided to join the union in August 2012, and talks have stalled. Marquez went so far as to </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/marquez-brothers-now-stalling-in.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">spread lies that Teamsters were going to call a strike</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, even though such an action is up to the workers themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Most workers make $9 an hour at the plant. The union’s bargaining unit initial sought $12 hour, but later lowered it to $11.50. The company, however, never budged beyond $9.10.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If sabotaging negotiations wasn’t bad enough, Marquez went further. </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/04/employers-brutal-union-busting-tactics.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They hired an expensive union-busting law firm to tail a worker who testified</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at a legislative hearing in Sacramento back in March. Although lawmakers called out the company and attorneys for their actions, the worker – a mother of four – was later fired.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Partly because of that case, </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/09/teamsters-tout-approval-of-worker-intimidation-bills.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">state legislation was enacted earlier this month</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that bars employers from intimidating immigrant workers for reporting illegal pay or working conditions by threatening to call immigration officials.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marquez workers said they are ready to continue their fight. Cheese weigher Juan Cruz said:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we win, we’ll be sending a very strong message to the owners.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teamster strong!<o:p></o:p></span><br />

Marquez Brothers Teamsters union worker intimidation Marquez workers to continue fight for Teamsters

Anti-union bosses at the Marquez Brothers cheese facility in Hanford, Calif., have thrown everything at their Teamster workers in an effor...

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Teamsters celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fAwWgZQIVn39gZG4g-Z4fTngm0-f-io2vPqGRXfno-5i94w7R3yHnw2EnknJn0gcFPdtgAZQt92VembWIewS60huc9ztTUoZ5pwXBdqIN8C0HhV1YlH_6njlvZq4K8BKoxDgFey45TM3/s1600/Knights+of+the+Highway+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fAwWgZQIVn39gZG4g-Z4fTngm0-f-io2vPqGRXfno-5i94w7R3yHnw2EnknJn0gcFPdtgAZQt92VembWIewS60huc9ztTUoZ5pwXBdqIN8C0HhV1YlH_6njlvZq4K8BKoxDgFey45TM3/s320/Knights+of+the+Highway+(2).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div>We're celebrating <a href="http://www.trucking.org/Appreciation_Week.aspx" rel="nofollow">National Truck Driver Appreciation Week</a> over on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teamsters" rel="nofollow">Facebook page</a> with photos old and new of trucks and truck drivers. Many of our readers posted some great comments, which we thought we'd share with you:  </div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/westendorchestra">James F. Giles</a> Everything everyone in America owns, eats, or uses got here on a truck - thanks, Teamsters. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/richard.lapointe.771">Richard Lapointe</a> Made the seniority list in Feb 1971 in Cambridge, MA and retired last year with an awesome pension after 42 years of service with several companies. God bless the Teamster's Union. It's always been the working class that made this country great. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nunzio.santuccio">Nunzio Santuccio</a> Keepem rolling !!!! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ray.roehrig">Ray Roehrig</a> Retired Local #500, Philadelphia, PA. Proud to be a Teamster! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/greggjodi.gomes">Greggjodi Gomes</a> I am proud to be a part of Local 407 Truck Drivers Union Cleveland ,Ohio--- thank you for all you do for me and my family !! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mike.porchiazzo">Mike Porchiazzo</a> Truckers make the world go around! It's a long lonesome road in the lifetime of a trucker! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jenjen726leo">Jennifer Young</a> proud daughter of a Teamster Driver!! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/larry.katra.73">Larry Katra</a> My stepdad was a union steward and saw him save many guys jobs over the years.The Teamsters was a great union and still is. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/frank.milatzo">Frank Milatzo</a> In '62 I was just learning how to drive big rigs, joined the Teamsters 25 years ago after freight: got deregulated and couldn't make any money as an independent trucker. Best move I ever made </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lenore.lopez.7">Lenore Lopez</a> I appreciate truck drivers, I wish more employers would respect the physical and mental demands of the job. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wayne.robertson.77964">Wayne Robertson</a> Funny how when I'm on 2 wheels I worry less about them than I do the soccer mom in the grocery-getter. But I'm not invisible to them, and the living they make depends on their safety and courtesy!</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sandie.hawley">Sandie Hawley</a> where would we be without truckers, God bless em. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.mansfield.90">Jennifer Mansfield</a> My Daddy, Oklie J Huggins, 1928-2008. Teamster Truck Driver for 44 yrs.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ken.caccamise">Ken Caccamise</a> I have a story about the old days and how different than they are today. Today we have spring loaded brakes. When the air brake lines are disconnected from the tractor the brakes are set, that means "on." Back years ago before spring loaded brakes when you lost air the wheels freewheeled, brakes off. A retired union O/O I spoke with this summer was in the middle of a story when he said something that caught my ear. The story was about running NYC. Just below Mount Pocono on PA 611 there's a steep downward grade. A tractor trailer's drive shaft snapped off coming down that grade and went threw the decking behind the cab cutting the brake lines, loosing all the brakes. The driver crashed and was killed. Talk about a dangerous job. I will say that without the Teamster's these problem might still exist today...</blockquote>

Teamsters trucks Teamsters celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week

We're celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation Week  over on our Facebook page with photos old and new of trucks and truck driver...

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Teamsters join LA Labor Day march for workers

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiYzsAkCQyvAN94PkWF2YjvBLPfIrPV1pHXTCFTfI6msI1V5UsBJ4vH1mymMje1rCHC2g2mhjdx-5KOe10yOQyBIW15_XkY_Ebz5D8Lvon8_OdAOvjPhNW7UehPNVQ2xsp_3KhpRl_vC7/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiYzsAkCQyvAN94PkWF2YjvBLPfIrPV1pHXTCFTfI6msI1V5UsBJ4vH1mymMje1rCHC2g2mhjdx-5KOe10yOQyBIW15_XkY_Ebz5D8Lvon8_OdAOvjPhNW7UehPNVQ2xsp_3KhpRl_vC7/s400/050.JPG" title="Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti met with Teamsters Horsemen during Los Angeles Labor Day festivities." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) met with Teamsters during picnic.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We're catching up with our Labor Day coverage. Here is a dispatch from California: </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 250 Southern California Teamsters joined more than 2,000 of their union brothers and sisters Monday in Los Angeles to march for workers’ rights. </span><a href="http://www.lalbharborlabor.org/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Labor Day parade</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and rally took place near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-port-strike-ends-with-return-to-work.html" rel="nofollow">port truck drivers have been fighting</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for fair treatment and the right to organize.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Led by three 18-wheelers in front and about 100 motorcycles and classic cars in back, Teamsters from several different locals across the region chanted, cheered and revved their engines while traversing the mile-long parade route. They also delighted the hundreds of spectators taking in the event with their call-and-response cheers:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rolling, rolling, rolling with the Teamsters! Who are we? Teamsters!</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anthony Balbastro, a <a href="http://www.teamsters63.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 63</a> member and a shop steward at United Stationers, said the Labor Day event filled him with pride:</span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only in America can you stand next to other brothers and sisters and march.</span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Patrick Kelly, secretary-treasurer of <a href="http://www.teamsters952.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 952</a>, said the parade sends an important message to all workers:<o:p></o:p></span><br /><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is an example of collective direct action where we can show the community who we are. It is important to reaffirm solidarity among working people.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And a group of retired Teamsters said they are concerned about the next generation of workers. Dan Salazar, a retired member of Teamsters Local 63, said:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are here out of respect for the lifestyle we enjoy for our families. We want other people to enjoy what we had. The laws have changed, peoples’ culture has changed. They are starting to get left behind.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuQtLagdCg9rtRmy2IPFnvVAySsF3Q6RTjpB_UnSXS9jGMV-gBthO8Ai_UiOJQVhS5kBl9EWlojhEEuUcXUWYtf5KqSQljNCjWO231adkzRy2fH4UQLCj_E4LTpoNZSw4dmi4xdReV3Gp/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuQtLagdCg9rtRmy2IPFnvVAySsF3Q6RTjpB_UnSXS9jGMV-gBthO8Ai_UiOJQVhS5kBl9EWlojhEEuUcXUWYtf5KqSQljNCjWO231adkzRy2fH4UQLCj_E4LTpoNZSw4dmi4xdReV3Gp/s320/038.JPG" title="Teamsters marching during the parade want better jobs, schools and health care." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamsters marched for a better life for the middle class.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Salazar said he was encouraged by recent actions by low-wage workers. Last week, </span><a href="http://www.teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-port-strike-ends-with-return-to-work.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">L.A. port truck drivers returned to work after a historic 24-hour strike</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ended against trucking company Green Fleet Systems. The drivers struck to protest unfair labor practices by Green Fleet’s management, including unlawful anti-union retaliation, harassment and intimidation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The short, sudden port truck driver strike was followed by more job actions by low-wage workers around the country. Fast-food workers in more than 50 U.S. cities walked off the job on Thursday. <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175995/protesting-activists-firings-walmart-workers-plan-biggest-mobilization-black-friday#axzz2dwMbJVgt" rel="nofollow">Walmart workers are planning to strike</a> in 15 cities tomorrow, their largest mobilization since Black Friday. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the parade, people thronged a local park for a barbecue and entertainment. Joining them were federal, state and local elected officials who pledged to work on behalf of workers for fairer wages. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Newly elected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Garcetti" rel="nofollow">Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti</a> said now is the time to stand up for workers:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will fight for a living wage. And better schools. And a greater Los Angeles.</span></blockquote></div>

California Labor Day Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Teamsters Teamsters join LA Labor Day march for workers

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) met with Teamsters during picnic. We're catching up with our Labor Day coverage. Here is a disp...

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Union members lead Minnesota anti-TPP march

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqYPmBjC4OmF8E7tJfA_uAtK2kBMUQ4I7vWkcwdi0zlfFaag4KivgYU6eLbNOOzm2cT0RAoMDuNAnT8vCUj_7kv8KEJvp1_MdM7BNAAzlLDLtwOBCebUYtmlj9_GTOw1aNYKd3DTHpQ0V/s1600/8-20tpprally4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqYPmBjC4OmF8E7tJfA_uAtK2kBMUQ4I7vWkcwdi0zlfFaag4KivgYU6eLbNOOzm2cT0RAoMDuNAnT8vCUj_7kv8KEJvp1_MdM7BNAAzlLDLtwOBCebUYtmlj9_GTOw1aNYKd3DTHpQ0V/s400/8-20tpprally4.jpg" title="Hundreds of union members marched through downtown Minneapolis to protest the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union members took to the street in Minneapolis to protest the TPP.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 200 Teamsters and other union members <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://advocate.stpaulunions.org/2013/08/20/cwa-delegates-lead-march-against-trans-pacific-partnership/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">marched against the  corporate-dominated Trans-Pacific Partnership</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (TPP) during a protest in downtown Minneapolis <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>yesterday afternoon. They targeted companies involved in negotiations over the secret Pacific Rim trade pact and said the deal’s details should be public.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Demonstrators </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TakeActionMN" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gathered outside offices of telecom giant Verizon as well as U.S. Bank</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. They pointed red foam fingers at the businesses to question why they have access to TPP documents when the rest of the nation – including members of Congress – do not. They also heard about why the proposed agreement is a bad deal for U.S. workers from Rep. Keith Ellison, union leaders and activists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Several speakers demanded that workers have a seat at the table so they can share their concerns about TPP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>And the crowd, engaging in chants, agreed:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secrets, secrets are no fun! TPP hurts everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The march, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CWAUnion" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">organized by the Communications Workers of America (CWA)</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, was especially timely as TPP supporters are lobbying Congress to rubber stamp the secret deal through “fast track authority.” Protesters railed against fast track, which would allow Congress to take a quick up-or-down vote on the TPP and for which, debate would be <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>limited <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and amendments would be barred. Fast track would keep the deal shrouded in secrecy from the public until it is too late. By approving fast track, Congress would be abrogating its constitutional requirement to review all trade deals before they are approved. CWA President Larry Cohen said we can’t allow that to happen:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need fair trade, not fast track. We have to say this to the White House, loud and clear.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one disagrees that, in an increasingly global economy, America should expand its trade with other countries so we can create jobs for American workers and maintain our global leadership. What we disagree on are the terms of trade, which need to be fair and promote a living wage for workers. It is something U.S. trade representatives should focus on as <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130819-704151.html" rel="nofollow">they resume TPP trade negotiations in Brunei</a> later this week.</span></div>

fast track Teamsters TPP Union members lead Minnesota anti-TPP march

Union members took to the street in Minneapolis to protest the TPP. About 200 Teamsters and other union members   marched against the  corpo...

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