Brothers & Sisters, we are at a crossroads in our organization. For decades, the Teamsters leadership has been plagued by a system of fear, bullying, retaliation, intimidation, and retribution. Under this system of governance, our members have suffered greatly.
Employers have taken full advantage of this climate. They use these same tactics to brutalize our members, who should not be afraid of either their employers or their union officials. Unfortunately, this is the reality we face.
The Teamsters can never achieve true union democracy or become all we can and should be until we eliminate these detrimental elements. It all starts at the top.
Regrettably, our current General President acts like a king, expecting us to be blind, faithful subjects—just as the bosses desire. Until we change this mindset within our organization, we will struggle to eliminate it from our workplaces.
Our platform is focused on worker empowerment, striving to eliminate the current oppressive system and granting our members real power: power in negotiations, power on the shop floor, power in their locals, power in their Joint Councils, and power in the fight against their respective employers.
MORE POWER, NO FEAR
#BEFEARLESS
Open bargaining for contracts is essential for fostering union democracy. Full transparency at the bargaining table empowers members, holds Teamsters leadership and employers accountable, and builds trust. Hiding information creates doubt and weakens worker empowerment within the membership.
Internal organizing and education are crucial for fostering strong Teamsters leadership. As Ron Carey wisely noted, "you can't organize new members if you're constantly selling out the ones you have." We must educate, empower, and elevate our members on a variety of issues, not just contracts and grievances, but also on societal challenges that impact union democracy. It's essential to prepare the next generation for leadership through action, reinforcing the importance of worker empowerment rather than just tough talk.
In any organization, there comes a time when institutional practices become outdated, and bureaucracy appears to serve no purpose. A review of our organizational functions and practices is in order, particularly under the guidance of Teamsters leadership. Our union thrives on principles of union democracy and worker empowerment, ensuring we operate efficiently and fairly.
The Teamsters leadership has made great strides in expanding union democracy both at the International and Local levels. However, rank-and-file members still lack a voice in Joint-Council elections. We need to establish direct rank-and-file elections at every level to ensure worker empowerment. Wherever your dues go, your vote for union leadership should follow.
Our current Teamsters leadership has isolated us from the rest of the labor movement by aligning with an anti-worker administration. When workers' rights and protections were threatened, there was no demand from our leadership to fight back for union democracy. To achieve true worker empowerment, we need a united labor movement.
Despite promises from the Teamsters leadership to bring UPS 'to their knees,' our members are suffering from excessive overtime, constant harassment, and a lack of consequences for the company. As buildings close and jobs are lost, it's essential that we prioritize union democracy and worker empowerment. If we're serious about standing up to UPS, we need to be prepared to walk the line.
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