What real people tell Teamsters about wanting to join us

<a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> hear from many, many people who want to join us. Most employers make it extremely difficult. They intimide and harass workers who want to form a union. Intimidation and harassment are illegal, but they did it anyway because they don't fear punishment. Sometimes we're amazed that people actually manage to join Teamster locals, given all the obstacles.<br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;">People want to join unions now more than ever. We've shared anonymous requests to join in the past, and today we bring you </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;"><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/09/workers-want-unions.html" rel="nofollow">more anonymous requests from workers</a> asking for help to become Teamsters. Our Organizing department is deluged with requests from workers who are bullied by employers, forced to work long hours, treated unfairly and exposed to dangerous working conditions.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;">Here's what they tell us: </span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Teamsters have  been trying to organize  us. I know you have been in the production people. But what about  us folks in the office? We are being run into the ground by the management! I would  really like to know what's going on and be included in the conversation. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...we would like some information on organizing ourselves, so that we might help focus the company's vision and attract other top professionals to our workplace.<br /> <br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me and my fellow coworkers have no protection. All of us work overtime but the employer does not pay -- only 40 hours.  Nor do we get paid holidays or vacations or personal days. All workers agree to vote for the union without the employer being notified. We need help organizing a union secretly.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are a printing company with minimum safety and they're making us run two presses at once while some pressman spend most of the time on the phone or the internet.  We are being exposed to chemicals while others are not. I'm sick and tired of being bullied and need some help.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please help me organize my distribution center. We have been taken over ... and they are looking to make working conditions unbearable.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My employer changes our wage at will. They spy on us with in-cab cameras. They spy on us and give us time off for violations of their safety rules, yet we drive trucks that are unsafe? They have hourly employees supervise several other hourly employees without compensation. Several years ago a group of men tried to unionize and when the company got wind of their efforts they were all fired.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It's tough out there. </span>

organizing unions What real people tell Teamsters about wanting to join us

Teamsters hear from many, many people who want to join us. Most employers make it extremely difficult. They intimide and harass workers who want to form a union. Intimidation and harassment are illegal, but they did it anyway because they don't fear …

Read more »

Taylor Farms workers demand respect and a living wage

<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/AVvXsEiYUkcoGRkkymlBRsUq6CUM12wQR05TarJzK4x1nV0wmTvnYOum-EcPpRFvb8vIwBbuOEndg9DAQCg-fMpAdw7zllJuzua9Eu6dPzJ9YArtawy8NvF6dAduL6kVxzhZTL-SuxeTN-_IjASw/s1600/Teamsters+601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUkcoGRkkymlBRsUq6CUM12wQR05TarJzK4x1nV0wmTvnYOum-EcPpRFvb8vIwBbuOEndg9DAQCg-fMpAdw7zllJuzua9Eu6dPzJ9YArtawy8NvF6dAduL6kVxzhZTL-SuxeTN-_IjASw/s320/Teamsters+601.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Joaquin County Supervisor Carlos Villapudua, Teamsters Local 601Secretary-Treasurer Ashley Alvarado, Teamsters Local 439 Secretary-Treasurer Sam Rosas</td></tr></tbody></table>Workers who want to join <a href="http://www.teamstersjc7.org/locals/roster/local-601.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 601</a> rallied outside of a Taylor Farms facility today in Tracy, Calif., to demand respect, living wages and affordable benefits for immigrant workers.<br /><br />They were joined by <a href="http://www.sjgov.org/board/district1.aspx?id=6750" rel="nofollow">San Joaquin Supervisor Carlos Villapudua</a> and other community allies, including faith leaders and immigrant rights activists.<br /><br />Said Villapudua:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">All workers deserve respect and a decent life for them and their families – that includes immigrant workers here in Tracy. We need to support these workers and tell Taylor Farms to provide a living wage and respect workers’ rights.</blockquote>Robert Carillo, a Taylor Farms worker who spoke at the rally, said:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Taylor Farms needs to stop its unfair treatment and intimidation against us. Our working conditions are horrible – that’s why we are organizing. We need union representation to get respect from the company.</blockquote>Workers spoke of ongoing safety issues at the plant, including fumes from strong chemicals used to clean machinery which causes gagging among some workers. Other long-term health and workplace concerns include being forced to work up to 18 hours a day and being afraid to report workplace injuries for fear of being fired. <br /><br />The company is running a bitter campaign to fight workers’ organizing efforts, including firing workers, threatening them with termination, and intimidating immigrant workers for speaking out against favoritism, wage theft and unsafe conditions. Taylor Farms worker Eddie Rodriguez was fired a day after talking to a <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> representative.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The company’s rosy talk about its reputation doesn’t matter – what matters is how they act. I was fired the next day after merely talking to the union representative. They treat us like toilet paper.</blockquote>According to workers at the rally, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_labor_practice" rel="nofollow">Unfair Labor Practice</a> charges have been filed with the <a href="http://nlrb.gov/" rel="nofollow">National Labor Relations Board</a> and the union has reached out to Taylor Farms CEO Bruce Taylor in an effort to start a constructive dialogue.<br /><br />Workers and supporters at the rally said they were putting the company on notice and vowed to keep up the pressure until Taylor Farms stops its attacks on immigrant workers.<br /><br />Lucia Gonzalez from <a href="http://www.wpusa.org/" rel="nofollow">Working Partnerships USA</a>, said:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Taylor Farms needs to know that the community will not stand for the abuse, intimidation and harassment of its workers.</blockquote>Teamsters Local 601 represents thousands of workers in the food processing industry. Taylor Farms workers in Salinas, Calif., are represented by Teamsters Local 890. <br /><div><br /></div>

immigration living wage organizing Taylor farms Taylor Farms workers demand respect and a living wage

San Joaquin County Supervisor Carlos Villapudua, Teamsters Local 601Secretary-Treasurer Ashley Alvarado, Teamsters Local 439 Secretary-Treasurer Sam RosasWorkers who want to join Teamsters Local 601 rallied outside of a Taylor Farms facility today in…

Read more »

Today's Teamster News 11.04.13

<a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15809/osha_weaknesses_force_workers_to_choose_report_safety_violations_or_keep_th/" rel="nofollow">OSHA Weaknesses Force Workers to Choose: Report Safety Violations, or Keep Their Jobs?</a>  In These Times   ... the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects only 1 percent of workplaces in the United States in a given year. In the absence of inspections, that means more of the burden to report safety abuses falls on individual workers themselves. However, the CEG study shows that due to weak protection laws, many workers find themselves choosing between reporting a safety violation and keeping their jobs—creating a vicious cycle that can lead to workers too fearful to report potentially deadly workplace hazards...<br /><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/19786-state-department-apologizes-for-calling-unionization-a-security-threat" rel="nofollow">State Department Apologizes for Calling Unionization a Security Threat </a> truthout   ...at a private meeting with labor groups earlier this month, the State Department opened the door to collective bargaining by workers who perform critical services for the American government overseas...<br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2483652/William-Gross-Californian-billionaire-apologizes-wealth-accumulated-workers-expense.html" rel="nofollow">Billionaire apologizes for wealth he accumulated 'at expense of workers' and says rich should pay more taxes</a>  Daily Mail   ...‘Congratulations. Smoke that cigar, enjoy that Chateau Lafite 1989. But (mostly you guys) acknowledge your good fortune at having been born in the '40s, '50s or '60s ... and having had the privilege of riding a credit wave and a credit boom for the past three decades,’ he writes...<br /><a href="http://www.greens.org/s-r/60/60-06.html" rel="nofollow">Inside the Psyche of the 1%</a>  Synthesis/Regeneration   ...Do the rich and super-rich tend to be psychopaths, devoid of guilt or shame? Are the 1% lacking in compassion? Does their endless accumulation of possessions actually bring them little to no happiness? To each of these, the answer is “yes”—but a very qualified “yes” with lots of subtleties...<br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/citi-rich-families-are-hoarding-cash-2013-11" rel="nofollow">CITI: Rich Families Are Hoarding Cash</a>  CNBC   ...A new survey of family offices by Citi finds that the wealthy are cash heavy—meaning they may fall short of the investment returns they're expecting...<br /><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/02/u-s-food-banks-struggle-to-meet-new-demand-caused-by-food-stamp-cuts/" rel="nofollow">U.S. food banks struggle to meet new demand caused by food stamp cuts</a>  Raw Story   ...37 million Americans were reliant on food banks to meet their nutritional needs in 2010, up from 25 million in 2006. The numbers have only grown through the recession brought on the deregulation of the financial markets and cuts to social programs...<br /><a href="http://angrybearblog.com/2013/11/another-congressman-and-stunning-subsidies-to-his-district.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Hzoh+%28angrybearblog.com%29" rel="nofollow">Another Congressman and stunning subsidies to his district</a>  Angry Bear   ...AB had a post on Congressman Steve King, an advocate of austerity and shut down yet received $9.17 billion in subsidies 1995-2012 for his district without offering cut backs for his district to share the sacrifices needed for austerity...<br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/koch-brothers-harry-belafonte-ku-klux-klan-99282.html" rel="nofollow">Koch brothers slam Harry Belafonte’s Ku Klux Klan remark</a>  Politico   ...“Already we have lost 14 states in this union to the most corrupt group of citizens I’ve ever known,” Belafonte said at the First Corinthian Baptist Church, according to Capital New York. “They make up the heart and the thinking in the minds of those who would belong to the Ku Klux Klan. They are white supremacists...<br /><a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10952" rel="nofollow">Colombian Farmers and Union Activists Under Attack</a>  The Real News   ...In Colombia terror is systematically used as a weapon for social oppression, violence against farmers and unions continues; and while President Santos allowed protests, there are still scars of Uribe government’s alleged violence and ties to paramilitary organizations...<br /><a href="http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/exclusive-govchristie-to-teacher-i-am.html" rel="nofollow">EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: @GovChristie to Teacher: "I Am Tired Of You People!"</a>  Jersey Jazzman   ...Is it not obvious that there has been an enormous amount of frustration and anger building up over Chris Christie's condescension toward teachers, parents, and students?...

austerity Chris Christie Colombia hunger inequality Kochs organizing OSHA workplace safety Today's Teamster News 11.04.13

OSHA Weaknesses Force Workers to Choose: Report Safety Violations, or Keep Their Jobs?  In These Times   ... the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects only 1 percent of workplaces in the United States in a given year. In the a…

Read more »

Today's Teamster News 10.27.13

<a href="http://peoplesworld.org/teamsters-score-big-organizing-gains-go-kosher-too/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters score big organizing gains, go “kosher” too! </a> People's World   ... while the biggest win was in Santa Monica, Calif., the most unusual saw the union "go kosher" - winning an election and a first contract for 15 kosher dining hall workers at the University of Pennsylvania...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/nine-democratic-senators-side-gop-entitlement-cuts" rel="nofollow">Sell-Out Alert: 9 Democrats Already Caving to GOP On Social Security Cuts </a> Alternet   ...There are at least nine in the Senate. California’s <a href="http://ourfuture.org/20130326/senate-kicks-the-chained-cpi-to-the-curb-but-leaves-the-back-door-open">Dianne Feinstein</a>, Montana’s <a href="http://ourfuture.org/20130326/senate-kicks-the-chained-cpi-to-the-curb-but-leaves-the-back-door-open">Max Baucus</a>, West Virginia’s <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/disrupt#53275328">Joe Manchin</a>, Delaware’s <a href="http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/serious-attempt-at-deficit-reduction-requires-closer-look-at-advice-in-bowles-simpson-report">Chris Coons</a> and <a href="http://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=39f20a2e-d3b9-49b1-82a0-e9c67f00ba4f">Tom Carper</a>, and Colorado’s <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/10/09/the-gang-of-six-nay-eight-is-back-will-it-matter/">Michael Bennett</a> have all said they support cuts to entitlements in letters to constituents, proposed bills or statements...<br /><a href="http://medicalobserverph.com/putting-profits-first-no-way-health-groups/" rel="nofollow">Putting Profits First? No Way – Health Groups</a>  Medical Observer   ...militant health groups belonging to Health Alliance for Democracy and the People’s Health Movement-Philippines picketed the office of the World Health Organization to express their strong opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement...<br /><a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1336647/jiangxi-businessman-pays-model-mo-lulu-100000-yuan-breastfeed-him" rel="nofollow">Jiangxi businessman pays model Mo Lulu 100,000 yuan to breastfeed him</a>  South China Morning Post   ... at a private dinner after the automobile show, Mo breastfed a man who paid her 100,000 yuan. According to the report, the businessman called Mo “mom” every time he took a sip. Other people at the dinner took photos and uploaded them online...<br /><a href="http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/labor/news/2013/09/20/74751/middle-classes-are-stronger-in-states-with-greater-union-membership/" rel="nofollow">Middle Classes Are Stronger in States with Greater Union Membership</a>  Center for American Progress Action Fund   ... four of the top five union states—Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Rhode Island—had middle classes of above-average strength...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/26/marty-sullivan-figured-out-how-the-worlds-biggest-companies-avoided-billions-in-taxes-heres-how-he-wants-to-stop-them/" rel="nofollow">Marty Sullivan figured out how the world’s biggest companies avoided billions in taxes. Here’s how he wants to stop them.</a>  Washington Post   ...it was Sullivan who in 2010 pieced together from public filings that Apple had understated its reported profits to hide the fact that it was paying a tax rate of less than 2 percent on its overseas profits, shining the spotlight on Apple’s tax avoidance schemes...<br /><a href="http://www.mybudget360.com/means-tested-benefits-government-benefits-more-than-fulltime-workers-census-data/" rel="nofollow">Means-Tested recovery: Over 108,000,000 Americans received means-tested benefits in latest report from Census Bureau, more than are currently employed full-time. </a> My Budget 360   ...the stock market is rallying higher and higher thanks to financial maneuvering but the actual American worker is taking it on the chin.  This is obviously unsustainable...<br /><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/libertarians-and-progressives-team-up-against-nsa-surveillan" rel="nofollow">Libertarians And Progressives Team Up Against NSA Surveillance</a>  Buzzfeed Politics   ...Organized by the coalition Stop Watching Us, which includes dozens of groups ranging from Internet freedom advocates to Tea Party organizations, the rally attracted hundreds of people to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to protest the electronic surveillance by the National Security Agency revealed by Edward Snowden this year...<br /><a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/10/24/First-responders-pension-fund.html" rel="nofollow">Police, fire pension fund still falls short, report says </a> Columbus Dispatch   ...Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, the Napoleon Republican who leads the Ohio Retirement Study Council…threatened to dismantle the Police & Fire Fund as a separate board because of what he perceives as members’ continued intransigence. “Some of these members are union thugs who know about power and aren’t afraid to use power or abuse power if they need that to win...”<br /><a href="http://www.plunderbund.com/2013/10/26/tea-party-activists-gather-signatures-for-so-called-right-to-work-amendment/" rel="nofollow">Tea Party activists gather signatures for so-called right to work amendment</a>  Plunderbund   ...At this rate, Ohioans could vote to make Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States before we ever get a chance to vote on another anti-union measure in Ohio.  Unless, of course, they pick up a lot of funding and start collecting signatures at a faster pace...<br /><a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-asbestos-bill-will-complicate-veterans-claims/article_c7f20289-bc20-5923-bc09-411005281a94.html" rel="nofollow">LETTER: Asbestos Bill Will Complicate Veterans' Claims</a>  Wisconsin State Journal   ...veterans make up only 8 percent of the population, but 30 percent of all mesothelioma-related deaths. Senate Bill 13 would add additional hurdles for victims seeking claims against asbestos companies and would delay or deny justice for asbestos victims...<br /><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/bizarre&id=9300706" rel="nofollow">Georgia man runs into burning home to save beer</a>  KTRK   ..."I went back into the house like a dummy." That's what one man in Georgia said after he risked his life to save beer from his fridge while his house was on fire...

corporate tax avoidance organizing pensions plutocracy right to work for less social security spying TPP Today's Teamster News 10.27.13

Teamsters score big organizing gains, go “kosher” too!  People's World   ... while the biggest win was in Santa Monica, Calif., the most unusual saw the union "go kosher" - winning an election and a first contract for 15 kosher dining hall workers at…

Read more »

Your Teamster union dues: Never settle, never stop, always fight to stay on top

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfE_nkFh3Pre52eezR0KMOZ2zFySg9EcChdwSxxh4Qsx17G-ptdklRAJChvzprWYJZA7Ct3pYm-QUsJGtqhsskmOd5h76c0RwrNdou4FoK9kMteKrr-FO-mKvi3vSocKuUXQWlKI5qyve/s1600/teamsters+812.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/AVvXsEjgfE_nkFh3Pre52eezR0KMOZ2zFySg9EcChdwSxxh4Qsx17G-ptdklRAJChvzprWYJZA7Ct3pYm-QUsJGtqhsskmOd5h76c0RwrNdou4FoK9kMteKrr-FO-mKvi3vSocKuUXQWlKI5qyve/s320/teamsters+812.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><i><a href="http://teamsterslocal812.com/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 812</a> in Great Neck, N.Y., posted this great piece about what it does for its members on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teamsters-Local-812/369957549750238?fref=ts" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 812 Facebook page</a>. We just <b>had</b> to share the whole thing with you: </i><br /><br />A <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">union</a> gives every member the opportunity to stand up for justice and dignity. Our struggles are about more than contracts – they are about the right of everyone who works hard for a living to have some power on the job, some way of talking back to management without worrying about being fired.<br /><br />We are a group of workers in the <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/brewery-soft-drink" rel="nofollow">beverage industry</a> — an organization that joins us together to give us a voice in the workplace, strengthens our rights on the job and secures a better life for ourselves and our families. Your dues provide the resources necessary to run this organization.<br /><br />Dues pay for the costs involved in negotiating contracts, handling grievances and arbitrations, legal representation, educating members and stewards on how to resolve problems.<br /><br />Dues pay salaries for union organizers and staff, the cost of running the office (rent, phone, utilities, copying, supplies, printing, mailings).<br /><br />Dues pay for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teamsters-Local-812-Shop-Steward-Page/278183408909689" rel="nofollow">shop steward</a> training programs, rally and strike expenses and everything else we need to fight for justice.<br /><br />Dues pay for our website, 812 newsletter "The Voice" and the Local 812 RV. Our RV has saved lives through medical testing, assisted in shop service and organizing campaigns while advertising our union, our mission, our purpose and our goals for the future.<br /><br />We have worked hard to make our union stronger. We have won industry-standard new contracts to protect benefits, preserve retirement, and ensure that Teamsters Local 812 members have the respect and dignity they deserve. During strikes we preserved health insurance and pension benefits and made sure all strikers could return to work proudly or be placed in other companies with the same or better pay and benefits. Those strikes included Pepsi Meadowbrook (1987), Pepsi Newburgh (1989), Canada Dry (1996) and Coca-Cola (2000).<br /><br /><ol><li>In 2011, Local 812 stopped Coca-Cola from closing the Haulage Department, saving 100 trailer jobs that were destined to be outsourced.</li><li>In 2012, through the Political Action Committee of Teamsters Local 812, we saved 200 jobs due to the over $20 million worth of damage caused by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teamsters-Local-812-Shop-Steward-Page/278183408909689" rel="nofollow">Hurricane Sandy at the Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn facility of Phoenix Beverages</a>. We did it by rallying Politicians to come to the aid of the company. </li><li>In 2013, we saved 120 jobs at Pepsi Bottling Ventures (Long Island) after it was purchased by Pepsi Cola of New York, guaranteeing jobs, hours, seniority and benefits for all. </li><li>Teamsters Local 812 successfully fought and won in court Gov. Patterson's "fat tax" and <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-big-teamster-victory-nyc-sugary-drink.html" rel="nofollow">Mayor Bloomberg's "Big Soda Ban</a>," saving hundreds of union and non-union beverage jobs in New York. </li><li>Successfully fought Coke to reinstate and create merchandiser mileage rights, merchandiser route picking, bargaining unit work, merchandiser work language for pack-outs, drivers' rights, scheduling improvements, and successfully fought labor standards in the warehouse while increasing by over 150 new members in Coca-Cola.</li><li>Successfully negotiated to save over 60 jobs at Oak beverages in Brooklyn after the company announced the closure. We succeeded in no job loss, increased pay for travel, transportation for others by private bus to travel to the other Oak facility. </li><li>Route picking in Anheuser Busch of New York and increase of 40 new union jobs.</li></ol><br />Over the past three years, we have won significant contracts for 98 percent of our membership at a value of over $1 billion. At companies like Coca-Cola Refreshments, Pepsi Cola of New York, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Pepsi Cola Distributors Association, Canada Dry of New York, Snapple Beverages, Good O, Anheuser Busch of New York, Clare Rose, Anheuser Busch of Long Island, Ippolito Distributors, Anheuser Busch of Staten Island, Union Beer, Anheuser Busch in Brooklyn, Boening Brothers, Miller, Yuengling on Long Island, ACG Gas, Long Island, 5 Boros, Westchester and Rockland counties, Borough Recycling, Betta Way Trucking, as well as many smaller independent beverage distributor contracts. These contracts have set the standard in the overall beverage industry across the nation.<br /><br />We have negotiating committees already in place for 2014 contracts at Phoenix Beverages, Lobo Distributors, Long Feng Trucking, Windmill Distributors, Cedar Beverages, Phoenix MTO Recycling, and Oak Beverages. These companies deliver products such as Miller Beer, Heineken, Guinness, Yeungling, Bass, Georgi Vodka, Polar, Colt 45 and more.<br /><br />We are organizing Big Geyser in Long Island, Craft Beer Guild in New Paltz, Oak Beverage Salesmen, Phoenix Merchandisers, not to mention the victories at Snapple Newburgh, Lobo Distributors, Phoenix MTO and others.<br /><br />Your dues payments make sure we have adequate finances to continue our progress. Together, we can and will improve conditions and build power for Soft Drink and Brewery Workers throughout the New York region and country.

812 beverage contract organizing Your Teamster union dues: Never settle, never stop, always fight to stay on top

Teamsters Local 812 in Great Neck, N.Y., posted this great piece about what it does for its members on the Teamsters Local 812 Facebook page. We just had to share the whole thing with you: A union gives every member the opportunity to stand up for ju…

Read more »

Organizing is in the blood of this Teamster family

As a <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/organizing-victories" rel="nofollow">Teamster organizer</a> and a <a href="http://driveupstandards.org/durham-school-bus-workers-forum" rel="nofollow">Durham School Services school bus driver</a>, Shelley Goodman witnessed a lot of hardship in 21 years. She worked to alleviate it -- and to pass that torch to a new generation.<br /><br />Goodman saw what happened to school bus drivers without a union. One school bus monitor sold her blood to make ends meet in Jacksonville, Fla. Goodman met her on an organizing drive.<br /><br />A worker who had terminal cancer came to cast his vote in the Teamster election in Minnesota, so committed was he to a better future for his coworkers.<br /><br />“I’ve witnessed all these battles,” Goodman told the audience of 1,000 Teamsters at the recent<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/09/teamster-womens-conference.html" rel="nofollow"> 2013 Teamsters Women’s Conference</a>. “But there are two women who I would like to recognize today. They encouraged me to be an activist. They are my two daughters.”<br /><br />The two sisters have the same fire as their mother to empower workers to better their working conditions and their lives.<br /><br />Goodman said she is extremely proud of her daughters as she called on the audience of Teamsters to continue their fight and pass it on to the next generation.<br /><br />Courtney Goodman Bell is a business agent with Local 777 in Chicago. Kacie Goodman Romero is a special education teacher in Louisiana and a chief shop steward working to organize and mobilize her coworkers.<br /><br />Romero is learning from her mother and sister about empowering workers to stand up for their rights.<br /><br />“I’m glad to be at the Teamsters Women’s Conference," Romero said. "Having moved from Illinois to Louisiana, a <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-talk-about-right-to-work.html" rel="nofollow">right-to-work</a> state, I have a lot to learn about organizing and unions. I want to empower myself to help others.<br /><br />Romero is one of five union members among a work force of 80. The teachers and staff have a growing interest in organizing, but also a fear of retribution from their employer.<br /><br />Romero remembers workers coming to their house to talk to their mom, the fighter, she told the<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/09/teamster-womens-conference.html" rel="nofollow"> Teamster</a> women at the conference. “Mom would go to her shop steward meetings and bring us along when we were little,” Romero said.<br /><br />Bell said being in a union is ingrained in their family.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Our father was a union ironworker. When I was eight years old, Mom organized at her bus terminal. For us, it was common conversation at the dinner table.</blockquote>Bell is the youngest daughter, but advises her sister on how to organize in her workplace.<br /><br />“I’m a business agent and I represent school bus drivers, and I can explain to them, I rode a bus, too, with my Mom. I know the gratification and challenges of being a bus driver,” Bell said.

Durham school bus organizing Organizing is in the blood of this Teamster family

As a Teamster organizer and a Durham School Services school bus driver, Shelley Goodman witnessed a lot of hardship in 21 years. She worked to alleviate it -- and to pass that torch to a new generation.Goodman saw what happened to school bus drivers …

Read more »

Today's Teamster News 10.07.13

<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24419564" rel="nofollow">US shutdown is starting to hit business, says Commerce Secretary</a>  BBC News   ...On Friday, the US defence contractor Lockheed Martin said it would put 3,000 workers on unpaid leave...<br /><a href="http://portside.org/2013-10-05/progressives-and-working-families-rally-against-chained-cpi-and-other-safety-net-cuts" rel="nofollow">Progressives and Working Families Rally Against 'Chained' CPI and Other Safety Net Cuts</a>  AFL-CIO Now   ...progressive members of Congress and working families are looking ahead to fight against any proposed grand "bargain" that would include benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare...<br /><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-06/now-mastercard-wants-your-fingerprints" rel="nofollow">Mount Rushmore blockage stirs anger in South Dakota</a>  Argus Leader   ...The National Park Service placed cones along highway viewing areas outside Mount Rushmore this week, barring visitors from pulling over and taking pictures of the famed monument... <br /><a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdigger_of_the_week_lori_wallach_20131005" rel="nofollow">Truthdigger of the Week: Lori Wallach</a>  Truthdig   ...The extreme want of coverage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal in even the independent, alternative press is a testament to the near-complete domination of politics and the news media by transnational corporate interests...<br /><a href="http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/10/person-lights-self-on-fire-on-national-mall-94921.html#.UlBwSnZxv-M.twitter" rel="nofollow">Man sets self on fire on National Mall</a>  Associated Press   ..."I heard from people around me that he was yelling something about voting rights...[He] poured the gas can on his head and lit himself on fire.," describes witness...<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/business/mugged-by-a-mug-shot-online.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" rel="nofollow">Mugged by a Mug Shot Online</a>  New York Times   ...for-profit Web sites, with names like Mugshots, BustedMugshots and JustMugshots ... routinely show up high in Google searches ... The ostensible point of these sites is to give the public a quick way to glean the unsavory history of a neighbor, a potential date or anyone else. That sounds civic-minded, until you consider one way most of these sites make money: by charging a fee to remove the image. That fee can be anywhere from $30 to $400, or even higher...<br /><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-06/now-mastercard-wants-your-fingerprints" rel="nofollow">Now Mastercard Wants Your Fingerprints</a>  zero hedge   ...MasterCard is joining the FIDO Alliance, signaling that the payment network is getting interested in using fingerprints and other biometric data to identify people for online payments...<br /><a href="http://digital.vpr.net/post/home-care-workers-vote-unionize" rel="nofollow">Home Care Workers Vote To Unionize</a>  Vermont Public Radio   ...Organizers say a vote to unionize by home care workers marks the largest unionizing effort in Vermont. It’s estimated there are 7,000 home care workers in the state. Now, as part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, they will negotiate with the state over issues like pay, hours and benefits...<br /><a href="http://www.theindychannel.com/money/bloomington-ge-workers-protest-over-job-cuts" rel="nofollow">Bloomington GE workers protest job cuts</a>  ABC News Channel 6   ...By the end of October, 160 workers at Bloomington's General Electric refrigerator plant will be out of jobs, and dozens of workers were outside the plant Saturday protesting the company's decision...

chained CPI government shutdown job cuts organizing privacy Today's Teamster News 10.07.13

US shutdown is starting to hit business, says Commerce Secretary  BBC News   ...On Friday, the US defence contractor Lockheed Martin said it would put 3,000 workers on unpaid leave...Progressives and Working Families Rally Against 'Chained' CPI and O…

Read more »

Workers still really, really want unions

Many American workers are treated badly on the job, as we have pointed out in our never-ending <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/workers-want-unions.html">series of posts</a> about their desire to join our union. Here we bring you more anonymous requests from workers asking for help to become Teamsters. Our Organizing department is constantly deluged with requests from workers who are bullied by employers, forced to work long hours, treated unfairly and exposed to dangerous working conditions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sharedprosperity.org/bp182/bp182.pdf">Polls</a> show the number of workers who want to join unions is rising, even as corporations attack them for trying. But never mind the polls, just see for yourself what workers say about their jobs.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We have met a wage freeze, many mandatory hours, blatant favoritism, unresolved job hazards among a few of the struggles faced daily in our workplace. Many are good employees, and deserve better. Please help.</blockquote>Don't underestimate how hard it is to form a union:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We, the employees ...  have been trying to form a union for a long time now. We believe the teamsters would be the best choice. I could go on and on about the types of things the employees here are getting sick of, but I would much rather speak to someone directly about these issues.</blockquote>Fear of being fired for saying the word "union" is a constant theme:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Sorry if I seem a little apprehensive but the conditions we work under are that bad. We are constantly told we are replaceable. This company laid-off long time workers and replaced them with new hires... We were forced to lie to a workers comp hearing or lose our job. The owners ... are rude and liars, promising raises and when asked about the raise the layoff or fire the person who asks. Incompetence is covered up in favor of the group of employees who fall into a certain clique. We desparetely need a union but even talking to you will cost me my job with unemployment. </blockquote>Workers frequently cite bullying and unfairness on the job:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We have been talking about this a lot lately being truck drivers, merchandisers, and warehouse workers. We are the only plant of three in the area that is not union and tired of being bullied. Hoping to hear a response soon thank you.</blockquote>Here too:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">They  are  paying  their  drivers way below  the  national  average, no  overtime after 8 hours, no  federal  pay  on  federal jobs and  just  basically being  unfair  with  their  workers.</blockquote>Long hours and low pay are typical complaints. Like this:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We are getting poor pay, about 15% less than other companies, and we are forced to work on Saturday and Sunday....I believe we need a union and have reason to believe that my co-workers feel the same way.</blockquote>We like the spirit of optimism at the end of this comment: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">... long hours .. low pay.. unsafe vehicles...problems getting paid...no representation for worker issues .. labor board no help ...  they fire at will high turnover of employees because of conditions...need organization of workers to insure compant does not treat us unfairly.. I have been an employee for 4yrs now its time we fought back with your help we shall overcome.</blockquote>

organizing unions Workers still really, really want unions

Many American workers are treated badly on the job, as we have pointed out in our never-ending series of posts about their desire to join our union. Here we bring you more anonymous requests from workers asking for help to become Teamsters. Our Organ…

Read more »

Teamsters hear from workers: 'Please help us'

<div class="tr_bq"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s1600/godblessunions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s200/godblessunions.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Teamsters Organizing department is <i>deluged</i> with requests for help in forming a union. We expect other unions also hear from workers who very much want to join.<br /><br />We're sharing with you some comments from workers who've contacted our organizers in the hopes we can help them. All comments are anonymous, of course, because companies will fire workers who breathe the word "union":<br /><blockquote>Sorry if I seem a little apprehensive but the conditions we work under are that bad. We are constantly told we are replaceable. This company laid-off long-time workers and replaced them with new hires because the maintenance manager is friends/family with the new hires. We were forced to lie to a workers comp hearing or lose our job. ... We desperately need a union but even talking to you will cost me my job. </blockquote><blockquote>Please Help us Get a Union Vote!!!! </blockquote><blockquote>...I have almost 23 years and have been put into a different job and will lose over $10 per hour while people with 5 years -- and some who refuse to do a good job -- kept their positions? I think I might have been selected for demotion based on past efforts I made to unionize! Or I am being singled out for something else, we have no recourse. Our Ombudsman is our Human Resource rep. How impartial is that when they are the problem? We need some help </blockquote><blockquote>Right now the state ...  is depleting funding from education. Teachers have faced pay cuts, no raises for 7 years, and now they are taking away our job security.  I want The Teamsters, the most powerful union in the country, to help the state ... to begin the fight for workers' rights.  We have a chance to make history if we can organize all the teachers in the state to go on strike.  Please help us. </blockquote><blockquote>We are getting poor pay, about 15% less than other companies, and we are forced to work on Saturday and Sunday.... .I believe we need a union and have reason to believe that my co-workers feel the same way. </blockquote><blockquote>Like to do something about the hours we work and pay we make</blockquote><div class="MsoPlainText"><br /></div></div>

organizing unions Teamsters hear from workers: 'Please help us'

The Teamsters Organizing department is deluged with requests for help in forming a union. We expect other unions also hear from workers who very much want to join.We're sharing with you some comments from workers who've contacted our organizers in th…

Read more »

Workers really, really want unions now more than ever

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s1600/godblessunions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s200/godblessunions.jpg" width="200" /></a>To give you an idea of just how badly workers want to form a union, we turned to the Teamsters Organizing department. They are <i>deluged</i> with requests for help. Here's a sample from taken from two days of communications from workers who want to organize. All comments are anonymous, of course, because companies will fire workers who breathe the word "union."<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...we really need a union. i  have seen mistreatment with some employees and we work extremely hard, and dont need to take mistreatment from upper managment.  i have a co worker who has worked there for 14 years and just got a 2.5 percent raise after all those years of service. much more than that but we need a union and some organization.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">I feel a strong majority of the employees would be happy to unionize. I have seen many examples of both corruption and mistreatment of employees.<br /> <br />We are under paid - no benefits - no paid holidays - we need a union to represent our situation... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Warehouse/ Drivers are tired of being over worked an unable to get needed time off for quote no one to cover...<br /> <br />The company is being ran backwards and workers rights are being stomped all over. Pretty sure a vote would go over on first ballot the way people are treated.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...an employee will be due in to work at 7:00 am and sometimes won't get off work until 10:00 pm or midnight. The very next day will be due back in at 7:00 am. There are more issues than this but I think over working someone who drives a truck that size is wrong... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...enough is enough my friends and I deserve to make a decent wage that is why I am asking for the union membership...</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...and we desperately need union representation...</blockquote><br />

organizing union Workers really, really want unions now more than ever

To give you an idea of just how badly workers want to form a union, we turned to the Teamsters Organizing department. They are deluged with requests for help. Here's a sample from taken from two days of communications from workers who want to organiz…

Read more »