Welcome to the Teamsters eDispatch. Stay tuned each week for the latest news from and about Teamster.org.

Teamsters Endorse Barack Obama
"Senator Obama will stand with the Teamsters when it comes to fighting for working families," said General President Jim Hoffa. The endorsement mobilizes the union's 1.4 million members and their families to elect the Illinois senator.

More Than 5,800 UPS Freight Workers Sign Authorization Cards to Become Teamsters
The Teamsters’ campaign to organize UPS Freight workers gains more momentum as an overwhelming majority of workers at the company’s terminals throughout the country recently signed authorization cards to unionize. Check out which workers have recently made the choice to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of UPS Freight drivers and dockworkers joining the union to nearly 5,830 in less than six weeks.

New Era Cap Workers in Mobile Unanimously Ratify First Contract
Teamsters at New Era Cap in Mobile, Alabama unanimously ratified their first contract following a seven-month struggle with the company.

BLOGWATCH
Victory at New Era ... How Sweet It Is
When a guy working with a union has the opportunity to spend a little time to write about a VICTORY, such as the one at the New Era Cap Company this past weekend, there is a particular excitement that is hard to explain.


TAKE ACTION
Tell Congress: Hold Mary Peters in Contempt
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters continues to blatantly disregard Congress and the will of the American people by authorizing spending of taxpayer funds to allow dangerous Mexican trucks onto U.S. highways. Contact your legislators today and tell them to fire Mary Peters for breaking the law and putting the American public at risk.

Visit the Fire Mary Peters web site to find out more about the Teamsters’ campaign to stop unsafe trucking.  

MORE TEAMSTER NEWS
Black History is Teamster History
The contributions of black members to the success of the Teamsters Union are numerous, varied and as old as the union itself. Black team drivers attended the first Convention in 1903 and were active in all aspects of the union, including leadership, from the beginning. That commitment remains strong today.

Teamsters Demand That OSHA Issue Emergency Standard on Combustible Dust
The Teamsters Union joined with the United Food and Commercial Workers in calling on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency standard on combustible dust following last week’s deadly explosion at a sugar plant in Georgia.

First Transit Bus Drivers at Emory University Join Union
In the first of nine elections at Atlanta-area First Transit locations scheduled in February alone, bus operators at Emory University unanimously voted to be represented by Local 728.


Union Demands Overhaul of Compensation Practices at UAL   
The Teamsters sent a letter Tuesday to UAL Corporation demanding that it overhaul its compensation practices. If the company makes no significant changes, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Fund will urge fellow shareholders to withhold votes from directors serving on the subcommittee that set UAL’s exorbitant executive pay. 

BENEFITS

Teamster Privilege Program

Take advantage of the multitude of great deals on products and services that are available only to Teamster members and their families through this exciting program.