Teamsters

TEAMSTERS CELEBRATE BIPARTISAN PUSH TO ADVANCE FASTER LABOR CONTRACTS ACT Today, the U.S. House of Representatives reached the 218 signatures needed on a discharge petition to advance the Faster Labor Contracts Act. The petition, filed by Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ, 1st District), will force a vote on the bill in the coming weeks. “Securing the support needed to move the Faster Labor Contracts Act forward is a significant milestone for millions of Teamsters and workers across this country,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “This is one of the most consequential labor bills to come before Congress in generations. It has the potential to hold Corporate America accountable for endlessly dragging out negotiations and denying workers the first union contracts they deserve. The Teamsters Union thanks every Democrat and Republican who signed the discharge petition and made the choice to stand with workers.” The Teamsters applaud House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY, 8th District), Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd District), and House Democrats for supporting the Teamsters and working people across America. The Teamsters commend Republican Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY, 17th District), Nick LaLota (R-NY, 1st District), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA, 1st District), Don Bacon (R-NE, 2nd District), Max Miller (R-OH, 7th District), Riley Moore (R-WV, 2nd District), and Rob Bresnahan (R-PA, 8th District), who stood up for working people and helped force action on this critical bill. The Faster Labor Contracts Act would amend the National Labor Relations Act to require employers to bargain with newly organized workers within 10 days of voting to form their union. The Senate version of the bill, introduced last year by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), continues to gain bipartisan and bicameral support.

Drivers and warehouse workers at Sysco South Florida, represented by Teamsters Local 769, have overwhelmingly ratified a strong four-year contract. The agreement delivers a 40 percent wage increase, Teamsters health care, stronger seniority protections, safeguards against automation, and double-time pay after 60 hours worked. The victory adds to growing momentum for Sysco Teamsters nationwide. The Teamsters Union represents more than 13,000 workers at Sysco and its subsidiaries across the country. Over the past year, Sysco Teamsters in Washington, Idaho, Illinois, the Dakotas, and Montana have secured powerful contracts with major wage increases, improved benefits, and stronger workplace protections.

This Memorial Day, the Teamsters Union honors the memory of all who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedom we enjoy each and every day.

Freight Teamsters are the backbone of our supply chain. They travel across North America to keep our shelves stocked and our needs met.   In recent weeks, over 150 Freight Teamsters have ratified strong new contracts, locking in higher pay, better benefits, and a richer quality of life!

TEAMSTERS AT SMITHFIELD FOODS SECURE STRONG CONTRACT 💪   More than 300 Teamsters with Local 822 stood united and won a contract at Smithfield Foods in Virginia with a 12 percent wage increase, back pay, no health care price hikes, and stronger workplace protections.   The Smithfield Teamsters produce ham and bacon products sold nationwide under Smithfield-owned brands that include Armour, Gwaltney, and Eckrich.

Brenntag Teamsters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly ratified a strong new contract. The members of Teamsters Local 200 battled during negotiations with the multibillion-dollar chemical giant and won a contract that reflects their hard work. The four-year Teamsters agreement protects and rewards workers, delivering higher wages, an increased contribution to the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund, improved PTO policies, and stronger workplace protections. The Teamsters unit at Brenntag includes drivers, mechanics, and warehouse and production workers who unload, mix, and transport hazardous chemicals across Wisconsin and surrounding areas.

After a 60-day work stoppage, Brenntag Teamsters at Local 90 in Iowa unanimously ratified a three-year contract. The Des Moines-based workers secured strong wages, increased pension contributions, enhanced PTO policies, improved working conditions, and job protections against AI and automation. The Brenntag Teamsters mix and transport chemicals for farming operations throughout Iowa. Starting in February, the group was abruptly locked out of their facility for 35 days. The company demanded workers return to their shifts but refused to offer a contract that met industry standards, which forced workers onto a 25-day unfair labor practice strike. “We endured long days on the picket line and braved rain, sleet, and blizzards,” said Dillon Strait, a production worker and Local 90 steward. “Corporate greed tried to break our solidarity, but it failed. Brenntag started this fight, and the Teamsters finished it.”

Tankhaul Teamsters across the Midwest and Gulf Coast are winning strong contracts and raising industry standards. Members of Teamsters Locals 270, 705, 346, 90, 200, 20, 592, and 926 at Air Products, AmeriGas, Bemidji Co-ops, Brenntag, Linde, and Watco have secured higher wages, enhanced benefits, and safer working conditions. Each Teamsters victory builds momentum and strengthens solidarity across the Tankhaul industry.

For the first time in recent history, we have labor reform legislation — the Faster Labor Contracts Act — that is both bipartisan and bicameral. When passed, the FLCA will require employers to start bargaining with newly organized workers within 10 days of voting to form their union. Let’s make it happen!

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 The U.S. House will be advancing the Faster Labor Contracts Act for a vote! The FLCA now has 218 Congressmembers ready to make faster first union contracts a reality for millions of workers.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman spoke today at Teamsters Joint Council 40’s Delegates Meeting in Pittsburgh. Joined by Joint Council 40 President Carl Bailey and Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Schmitt, O’Brien praised Western Pennsylvania Teamsters for setting the standard across the region. Joint Council 40 proudly represents 35,000 members across diverse industries throughout Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. “Joint Council 40 is a model for what a fighting union should look like,” O’Brien said. “Western Pennsylvania remains one of the strongest regions anywhere in this union. This is a region built by working people. Teamsters here know what solidarity looks like because they live it every single day.”

TEAMSTERS UNION ISSUES STATEMENT AHEAD OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL MARKUP The five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, known as the BUILD America 250 Act, would impact rank-and-file Teamsters nationwide throughout the transportation sector. Ahead of the legislation’s markup in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-6th District) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-2nd District), Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien issued the following statement. “The Teamsters Union commends the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for addressing many of the Teamsters’ priority issues in this legislation, including expanding CDL training, establishing an autonomous vehicle framework for state and local governments to build upon, creating groundbreaking mandates for physical barriers on transit buses to protect drivers, and putting the final nail in the coffin for Chinese-owned manufacturers trying to destroy the livelihoods of Teamsters who build transit buses. “The Teamsters support efforts to improve the federal permitting process to make sure investments turn into real construction jobs. Our union also appreciates the bill’s focus on improving roadway safety protections for construction workers. “While the bill includes positive provisions to protect working people, several critical issues need to be resolved. The final version of the bill must include the Railway Safety Act and other rail safety provisions and be free of any amendments that would dangerously increase the maximum weight of trucks on our nation’s roads. “The Teamsters are proud to be the largest and strongest union representing transportation workers in America. We will continue to put the American worker and the safety and livelihoods of our 1.3 million members first as this important legislation makes its way through Congress.”

More than 1,700 Teamsters at Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, Co., were locked out this morning after months of fighting for a new collective bargaining agreement. The meat processing giant has refused to offer Teamsters Local 455 members necessary improvements to wages, health care, and safety protections. Workers at the Cargill facility are critical to processing millions of pounds of beef for American families nationwide. In a town as small and tight knit as Fort Morgan, Cargill Teamsters keep the economy running. “Shame on this company for shutting out our members. Cargill can afford to give these workers a fair deal that reflects their hard work and dedication,” said Dean Modecker, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 455. “This was a disgraceful move by a company that has long taken its workers for granted. We won’t stand for it.”

Thank you @RepHorsford for introducing the Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act! Employers force their workers on the strike line when they fail to respect a collective bargaining agreement or violate workplace rights.  Strike funds can help ease the impact of lost wages. This bill will end the double taxation of strike pay and help to level the playing field for workers forced to strike to protect their rights at work.

For the first time in decades, Virginia had a chance to strike a real blow against one of the most destructive anti-worker laws in American history. The General Assembly passed legislation to repeal Virginia’s public-sector “right to work” law. Then Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed it. She had an opportunity to stand with workers. Instead, she sided with the same failed ideology that has kept Southern wages depressed and unions on the defensive for nearly 80 years: justcauseteamsters.substack.com/p/a-historic-o…

FIRST STUDENT TEAMSTERS RATIFY NATIONAL MASTER AGREEMENT Teamsters at First Student have ratified a five-year contract, securing stronger protections, improved benefits, and safer working conditions impacting over 22,000 school bus workers across the country. The agreement was secured following a credible strike threat across 96 locals that would have impacted school bus routes nationwide. “First Student Teamsters refused to settle for the status quo and fought for an agreement that delivers real improvements,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Our members were ready to act and hold this company accountable if they failed to deliver the deal workers more than deserved. This contract strengthens job protections, improves retirement security, and will continue to raise the bar for school bus workers everywhere.” The new agreement includes improvements such as increased access to health care benefits, new minimum standards for retirement contributions that will provide pension contributions for the first time to more than 10,000 workers, and expanded leave protections. It also creates a standalone article governing video and audio technology on buses, including protections against misuse of data and requirements for future national negotiations over changes to camera systems. The First Student National Master Agreement impacts over 17,000 Teamsters and 5,000 additional school bus workers nationwide. As First Student Teamsters practice picketed at bus yards across the country, the Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee reached a tentative agreement just hours before the contract expired on March 31.

BLET TEAMSTERS & UNION COALITION WIN HISTORIC STRIKE AT LIRR Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (@BLET) and their union coalition have reached a tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to end the carrier’s first strike in over three decades. The agreement provides workers with raises that maintain their standard of living while strengthening work rules and improving benefits. “BLET Teamsters and their brothers and sisters across four other unions just showed this entire country what worker solidarity looks like in action,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “These union railroaders made it clear from the start they would not accept a deal that shortchanged them and undercut their standard of living. For three long days they bravely withheld their labor on picket lines across the New York metropolitan area. Every worker in America is reminded of what can be achieved through courage and conviction to fight for a better way of life.” Thousands of workers from five unions were forced to strike by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) refusal to offer them a fair contract. BLET Teamsters and their coalition partners set up picket lines at major LIRR hubs immediately after midnight on Saturday, May 16. “This victory was won by union members who stood their ground and refused to be pushed around,” said Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. “Our coalition showed the MTA that railroad workers will fight for the respect, pay, and protections we’ve earned. Their unity and determination forced this railroad to finally deliver a fair agreement.” The coalition spent years bargaining with the MTA for a new agreement. The process included two Presidential Emergency Boards that ruled in favor of the unions. In that time, workers went without raises as inflation ate away their standard of living. The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in America, with 300,000 daily passengers. The Teamsters represent over 500 of the LIRR’s locomotive engineers.

The first contract won by Teamsters Local 533 motorcoach operators at Diversified Transportation makes it clear how much Teamsters contracts can positively change lives. The new Teamsters contract delivers increased wages, a guaranteed seven-hour workday, sick pay, health care, and retirement benefits for the 114 workers who unionized with Teamsters Local 533 last November. The unit is made up of motorcoach operators who provide transportation services to workers at Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass, a development and construction project, and to workers at Nevada Gold Mines.

The End of the Road poses an important question: Who speaks for truckers? Across nearly 300 pages, author Gord Magill searches for that answer while cataloging the many indignities and injustices facing drivers. For any reforms to come from Magill’s work, and from others raising these issues, truckers will need to organize. If that happens, End of the Road may not read as a eulogy for a once-proud profession. It could instead stand as a record of the moment when working drivers decided enough was enough: justcauseteamsters.substack.com/p/book-review-…