The O’Brien-Zuckerman slate, also known as the OZ Teamsters United slate, has gained a lot of momentum since announcing their intent to run. Ballots for the international union election are being mailed out on October 4 and will be counted November 15.

The TDU convention saw one of the highest levels of turnout since the formation of TDU in 1976. Many union activists were happy to see old friends who they had not seen in person for some time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a lot of excitement and anticipation Friday evening as speakers from around the country welcomed participants to the TDU convention. The crowd watched as Sean O’Brien took the stage, the man many believe will win the upcoming election and become the new general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

O’Brien began his speech by thanking TDU for welcoming him to the convention and got straight to business. During his speech, O’Brien acknowledged that while he had not always been supportive of TDU, he recognized that he would not be in the position he is today without the valuable contributions of TDU. In particular, O’Brien credited TDU with winning the right for Teamsters to directly elect national officers. This is a democratic method of electing leadership that Teamsters enjoy, but most unions in the United States still lack. O’Brien also promised to continue working with TDU after the election.

Saturday and Sunday saw different workshops and meetings. UPS Teamsters discussed the upcoming 2023 contract negotiations and how to fight for a stronger contract. Newer members of TDU learned fundamental organizing principles. Teamsters networked and made new contacts and friends throughout the convention, especially during meal breaks. TDU raised a substantial amount of money during their fundraising talk. Members were happy to contribute because of the excellent work TDU has accomplished over the years. Members also helped update the TDU constitution to by making a few modern changes during the convention. The 2021 elections for TDU steering committee went smoothly.

First time TDU convention attendee William Blake from Tampa, Florida had this to say about the convention: “As a new Teamster, it was incredibly inspiring to see so many experienced labor organizers. The convention taught me that it’s possible to build a fighting Teamsters International again, and that moment is right here and now.”

As they left the convention, members of TDU promised to go back to their home locals and do everything in their power to help the O’Brien-Zuckerman, Teamsters United slate win the election.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #Teamsters #TeamstersForADemocraticUnionTDU #OZSlate

Chicago, IL – Frontrunning candidate for the next general president of the Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, addressed the convention of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), November 2. O’Brien, who currently leads Local 25, spoke about the future of the Teamsters. The election will take place in 2021.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #Teamsters #TeamstersForADemocraticUnionTDU #SeanOBrien

Although UPS spokeswoman Natalie Black tried to place the blame for the service failure on high volume, the actual cause of the late deliveries is the greedy and exploitative policies of UPS management. November and December are the busiest and most profitable months for the giant logistics corporation, which reported fourth-quarter revenues of $14.57 billion in 2012 alone. This period, dubbed ‘peak season’ by the company, is also the time when UPS workers are asked to work the longest and most intense hours, with many drivers working 14-hour shifts.

During peak season, UPS hires a large seasonal workforce to deal with the higher volume. Most seasonal employees receive low pay and little to no training, while many permanent part-time employees work two or three jobs to make ends meet. During peak season, these part-time employees work shifts often over eight hours and many are forced to go without sleep to work their second job.

“The issue is instead of working people to the bone they should hire people full time,” said Cory Oliver, a UPS worker and member of Teamsters Local 344. “There are way too many people pulling 13 to 16 hour shifts when they're only scheduled for 3.5 hours minimum. It creates dangerous working conditions when you're working with a person that exhausted. They also rely on people who are months-in with no insurance or knowledge of their rights and take advantage.”

UPS delivers high profits to shareholders by keeping their labor costs low, which means low wages and long hours for workers. In southern states, like Florida, UPS hires temporary workers to deliver packages using unshielded golf carts. These workers are barely paid over minimum wage. UPS cuts corners by hiring these temporary workers off of the street, rather than adding more jobs and delivery routes for permanent employees during the holidays.

UPS’s long-established practice of inadequately staffing their operations seems to have finally caught up with them. Oliver put it this way: “So then they rely on drivers who don't know their routes and seasonal loaders who don't know where the boxes go, creating a back-up in service that then makes service failures for the company and customers’ gifts.”

Oliver continued, “We had one night where our entire belt, short of one load, was unable to scan [boxes]. So we were yelled at to work faster to pick up the company’s confusion of what boxes went where.”

On Dec. 26, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) released a statement about the massive service failure, saying, “For years, management has been boosting profits by shrinking the workforce – cutting and combining routes and eliminating full-time jobs inside on the package trucks and in the hubs. Excessive overtime, supervisors working and production harassment are no substitute for having enough Teamsters to get the job done right.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represent UPS workers across the country. According to Article 3, Section 7 of the National UPS Master Agreement, UPS “shall make every reasonable effort to maintain a sufficient workforce to staff its operations with bargaining unit employees.”

As of Dec. 27, UPS customers continued to report late deliveries.

#JacksonvilleFL #Teamsters #UPS #TeamstersForADemocraticUnionTDU #UnitedParcelService

At the October convention of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) Leedham said that because the Teamsters haul this country’s freight, “We are situated at the choke points of the U.S. economy.” Leedham urged that we use this power to turn around the Teamsters. As he stated, “We can change the labor movement. We can make history.”

Hoffa’s famous name gave him an initial advantage, but his record of failure tempered this. Hoffa failed to negotiate sufficient employer contributions for UPS, the major trucking companies and other employers to maintain current Teamster benefits. But then he lied to members telling them that he had done the job. In the case of UPS he had the nerve to call it the “best contract ever.”

Hoffa is also responsible for the largest dues increase in Teamster history. He claimed that he was going to use the money to increase Teamster power, but the facts indicate otherwise. A TDU study shows that Hoffa and key allies each pay themselves over a quarter million dollars a year. When Hoffa first took office, 16 Teamster officials paid themselves with multiple salaries. Now 150 Teamster officials receive multiple salaries.

The race is shaping up to be a battle between old guard officials and rank-and-file reformers. Hoffa’s threat of International intervention into local unions plus the carrot of buying off local officials with Teamster dues money has successfully cowed the vast majority of local union officials. But many rank-and-file workers, led by TDU, are seeing through this.

“We are sick of the corruption, our officials take our money and do nothing. We need to take control of our union before it’s too late, before we become just a company union. That is why I got involved in the Tom Leedham campaign and TDU,” said Chicago Teamster Joe Sexauer.

No matter who wins this election, the battle between rank-and-file reformers and old guard officials will continue on the local level as corrupt officials try to protect their lifestyle and workers try to build a fighting union. The struggle goes on.

#ChicagoIL #Teamsters #UPS #TeamstersForADemocraticUnionTDU