Teamsters Local 251

The Teamsters-backed Warehouse Worker Protection bill has now been signed into law in Connecticut by Gov. Ned Lamont, becoming the 6th state nationwide to do so. This legislation prevents companies like Amazon from abusing their workforce by regulating the use and disclosure of warehouse quotas. “It was a multi-year campaign by Connecticut Teamsters to get this bill passed, but we don’t back down from tough fights — we win them,” said Rocco Calo, International Vice President for the Eastern Region and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1150. “This law will put an end to the race to the bottom in the warehousing industry, which is driving sky-high injury rates at Amazon and other bad employers.”

More than 190 workers at IKEA’s distribution center in Joliet, Ill., have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 179. The win marks the third successful Teamsters organizing effort at the company in North America, signaling growing momentum to unionize the world’s largest furniture retailer. “We work hard every day to keep this operation running, and we deserve respect and a say in our workplace. We knew the Teamsters could give us that voice,” said Kathy Kasher, an IKEA worker and new member of Local 179. “We have long needed better pay, better benefits, and a better future for our families. We are going to go for all those things and more when we negotiate a powerful Teamsters contract.” Workers at the Joliet distribution center play a critical role in moving furniture and home goods across the Midwest and throughout the company’s supply chain. IKEA reported more than $1.7 billion in net profits last year. “We look forward to providing IKEA workers with the tough representation they deserve,” said Chris Richter, President of Local 179. “I want to congratulate our newest members and stand ready to fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.” “IKEA workers chose to become Teamsters because they wanted a union that delivers real results when it comes to representing members and securing strong contracts,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “We are committed to helping these new members get the protections they deserve and will be ready to take on this company with the full backing of the International Union.”

Teamsters at First Student across the country have voted to authorize a strike. The nearly 18,000 bus workers — whose current National Master Agreement expires on March 31 — are fighting for a strong and fair contract that reflects the vital role they play in communities nationwide. If the company fails to get serious about negotiating bythe contract's expiration date, Teamsters are ready to take the necessary actions to win what they deserve. As drivers, monitors, and attendants, First Student Teamsters ensure thousands of children get to and from school safely every day. It's time First Student brought an agreement to the table that recognizes that.

Teamsters Local 570 hosted its annual stewards seminar today, bringing together rank-and-file leaders committed to protecting members across Maryland. The seminar was led by Local 570 President Sean Cedenio, whose leadership has fueled major growth and momentum. Over the past three years, the local has organized more than 400 new members, secured strong agreements with industry-leading gains, and built the financial strength to aggressively enforce contracts and defend members. Teamsters International Vice Presidents James Wright, Matt Taibi, Bill Hamilton, and Rocco Calo were in attendance, showing the full backing of the International Union behind Local 570. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien addressed the group by video. “Like you, I too was once a steward back in Boston. I always tell people there’s no better job in the union,” O’Brien said. “You get to take on the boss face to face. You get to stand up for your friends and co-workers. You get to drive management nuts. You are the lifeblood of the Teamsters.”

The Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC) are continuing to fight for a new National Master Agreement for 18,000 Teamsters bus workers at First Student. While negotiations are progressing, First Student — the largest private school bus company in the country — has refused to put forward a proposal that delivers meaningful improvements for their bus drivers, monitors, and attendants. The union committee has been clear: they will not accept regressive proposals from the company and will not stop fighting for the contract Teamsters at First Student deserve.

251 ✊️!

The DHL Teamsters National Negotiating Committee wrapped up a week of bargaining with the company in Philadelphia. As the March 31 contract deadline rapidly approaches, the committee once again made clear that DHL must finalize all supplemental agreements and put a fair national contract on the table. Last week, DHL Teamsters nationwide voted by a 96 percent margin to authorize a strike. DHL must complete all supplements and present an acceptable national agreement, or Teamsters will be forced to take action. There will be no contract extensions.

After a full day of site visits with Local 481 and Local 542, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien attended the UPS National Grievance Panel today in San Diego. O'Brien met with Teamsters leaders from across the country to address the company’s contract violations and insulting buyout scheme, and to back the member-driven enforcement campaign underway across the country. “UPS CEO Carol Tomé is desperate to wriggle her way out of the commitments she made in our national contract. We’re not going to let it happen,” O’Brien said. “Rank-and-filers should be filing grievances every single time management breaks our legally binding national agreement. That means when you see a Roadie package on your route. That means when the company pushes its illegal buyout scam and tries to trick our members into signing away their rights. The contract we negotiated is powerful, and we are going to enforce it.”

UPS is trying yet another desperate, shameless and illegal buyout of Teamsters drivers, which violates at least 6 articles of the UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement. We will not be sold out or sold short. File your grievances and reject the buyout!

“Being a bus driver, it’s not just driving a bus. We’re taking care of somebody else’s children.” 18,000 Teamsters school bus drivers at First Student, the largest school bus company in the country, are fighting for a fair contract. These essential workers play a vital role in their communities, ensuring children get to and from school safely every day, and they deserve wage increases and job protections that reflect that.

Thousands of Teamsters at DHL Express have voted by a 96 percent margin to authorize a strike if the logistics giant fails to present a fair contract by March 31. Teamsters have made clear to DHL management that all supplemental bargaining must be completed before a national agreement can be signed, and there will be no contract extensions. “DHL should be on notice that they need to start moving quickly to complete the supplements and present an acceptable contract offer,” said Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division. “Our members will not work a day past the expiration of our current agreement. If DHL fails to deliver, Teamsters at the company are prepared to take action.” The current DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement covers thousands of workers across 26 local unions in 16 states. With the agreement set to expire on March 31, Teamsters are demanding timely completion of all supplements and a national contract that raises standards, strengthens working conditions, and protects hard-earned benefits. “We take tremendous pride in the work we do every day and want to avoid a strike,” said Patrick Hughes, a driver at DHL Express and a member of Teamsters Local 2785 in San Franscisco. “But this overwhelming vote shows we are united and ready to do whatever it takes to secure a fair agreement.” In 2023, more than 1,100 Teamsters at DHL’s global hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) were forced to strike over the company’s unfair labor practices. Picket lines extended across the country, disrupting DHL’s operations during the busy holiday season. The nationwide strike ultimately compelling DHL to correct its unlawful conduct and reach an acceptable agreement. “This wouldn’t be the first fight Teamsters have waged to win the contract they deserve,” said Rick Marquis, a driver at DHL Express and a member of Teamsters Local 25 in Boston. “Just like our brothers and sisters at CVG proved in 2023, we are ready to stand up and win. DHL must give us a fair contract before March 31, or we will be on the picket line.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is proud to celebrate March as Women’s History Month as we honor the sacrifices and achievements of women in our union and our nation. Since our founding in 1903, women have played a crucial role in the growth and success of the Teamsters Union and the broader labor movement. Women labor leaders participated in the very first Teamsters convention and since then have led the Teamsters Union to the forefront of fighting for gender equality in the workplace and society. Every day, Teamsters women who serve as local presidents, business agents, stewards, and rank-and-file members fight and win the best contracts for workers of all backgrounds in all industries. This month and throughout the year, the Teamsters Union celebrates the selfless women who make our union stronger and improve the lives of 1.3 million Teamsters families across the country.

The Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC) are hard at work continuing to bargain with First Student. The current National Master First Student Agreement (NMFSA), which protects over 18,000 bus workers, expires on March 31. Discussions with the company are progressing, and the committee remains focused on core issues: increasing benefits, raising standards, and delivering meaningful improvements for members nationwide. Bargaining will continue until a national agreement is won, delivering the respect and protections Teamsters at First Student deserve.

The DHL Teamsters National Negotiating Committee returned to the bargaining table in Washington D.C., this week and continues to press the company for fair supplemental agreements. The Teamsters have made clear that there will be no national agreement until all supplemental bargaining is completed. The current national contract expires on March 31, and DHL must continue to negotiate supplements quickly because there will be no contract extensions. If management fails to deliver a fair agreement by the deadline, DHL Teamsters will be prepared to take action.

Amazon Teamsters and their allies gathered at New York City Hall today to call for passage of the Delivery Protection Act during its introduction for the 2026 City Council session. The groundbreaking legislation would protect workers and communities by requiring last-mile delivery facilities in New York City to be licensed and directly employ their staff, effectively banning Amazon's corrupt Delivery Service Partner model from the five boroughs. “Professional drivers like me power New York’s economy, but every day we have to deal with dangerous working conditions and an employer that acts like we don’t even work for them,” said Luc Rene, an Amazon Teamster at the DBK4 location in Queens. “The only way to stop Amazon’s abuse of us and the communities we serve is to pass the Delivery Protection Act.” The Teamsters urge the New York City Council to help end this trillion-dollar company’s exploitation of its workers by passing the Delivery Protection Act as soon as possible.

DHL Teamsters met in Washington D.C., today to begin negotiations for a new DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement. The union made clear to management there will be no national agreement until all supplemental bargaining is completed. The current national contract expires on March 31, and there will be no extensions. “DHL must complete supplemental bargaining before we can reach a new national agreement,” said Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division. “The clock is ticking, and this company needs to start taking supplemental bargaining seriously. Without fair supplements, there can be no deal.”

From Philadelphia to the West Coast, Teamsters local unions are engaged in supplemental negotiations with DHL Express. In Philadelphia, DHL Teamsters are defending their seniority and pushing back against a new AI-driven system that undermines the rights secured under the DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement. The message to DHL is clear. Without fair supplemental agreements secured, national bargaining cannot begin. The DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement expires March 31, 2026. The Teamsters will not grant contract extensions.

Put some respect on it, @UPS. Our jobs aren’t for sale.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated fighting for sanitation workers. 3,000 Teamsters who make the multibillion-dollar waste giant Republic Services run are continuing MLK's crusade of respect and dignity for sanitation workers by fighting for new equitable contracts across the nation.

Working people cannot afford to leave the decision over how AI is implemented to the CEOs of big corporations dead set on ripping us off. Without a doubt, they will choose profit over people every time: justcauseteamsters.substack.com/p/ai-policy-an…