The Teamster Web Newsletter

Welcome to the second edition of the Teamster Web Newsletter. This publication is another resource for Teamsters to learn what's going on in our union's ever-increasing sphere of cyberspace.

Month Filled With Workshops

This month found the Teamsters' web team conducting five different workshops dealing with online mobilization, organizing and education. Four of the workshops were at the Teamsters Women's Conference and one here at the International Union as part of a Training and Learning Academy on member mobilization.

The workshops pivot off information compiled in a PowerPoint, which can be downloaded for you to use as a reference document.

Content is King!

Folks frequently write in requesting assistance with content they can post to their local's web site. At the workshops and in passing, we're often heard preaching the importance of updated and fresh web content for members and everyday visitors to the web sites. To that end, please be reminded that you can (and should) post anything that is up on Teamster.org or any of the campaign web sites.

Here are a few stories you might consider spreading around:

Groups Protest Whole Foods, UNFI At Natural Products Expo in Boston

Teamsters at First Student Stand Strong For Fair Contract Offers

Teamsters Stand in Solidarity With UPS Airline Mechanics

Teamster Campaigns!

Teamster campaigns manifest a lot of content that you can use for your sites; here is a little information about some of those campaigns. You can also get updated information on this stuff right here: http://www.teamster.org/content/campaigns .

School Bus and Transit Workers
Around the country, school bus and transit workers are joining together and working to make real improvements in their jobs and lives. The workers are standing up for good jobs and safe, reliable school bus services in our communities. In their effort to organize, they are making sure they have a voice at work, are bargaining as equals with the employers, and are working to ensure that they are all treated fairly and with respect. More than 17,700 School Bus and Transit workers have organized with the Teamsters since the campaign since spring 2006.

FedEx Mechanics Class and Craft
The FedEx Express Mechanics Class and Craft have the mission to organize a union with the Teamsters. These skilled workers are ready to secure their jobs, pension, and health care with a strong Teamster contract.

Horizon & Alaska For Teamsters
Mechanics and related at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have launched a campaign to join the Teamsters – and mechanics at Horizon have succeeded. On April 20, 2009, the mechanics and related at Horizon Air overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters. The victory brings hope to mechanics and related at Horizon that they will have real representation with real power. In due time, we will get what we so desperately deserve; a strong contract with strong language and the power to uphold that language.

Continental Fleet Service Workers
CAL Fleet Service workers' mission is to organize a union with the Teamsters. On the campaign site they write, "We are the fleet service workers at Continental Airlines, and the time has come for us to form a union like all the other non-management workers at CAL. Our Teamster brothers and sisters, mechanics at CAL, have improved their lives as Teamsters. We deserve the same strength as the CAL mechanics. By joining the Teamsters, the fleet service workers will be stronger. We know that the Teamsters Union is the only union with the capacity and resources to organize us at Continental Ramp."

Excellent Resource Discusses Facebook Safety
Let's face it, you are either a full-blown Teamster-Geek – or on your way. Perhaps you are too swamped to keep up with the technology and it all just gives you a headache anyway. Whatever your case is, grab a cup of coffee and go check out this site ReadWriteWeb.com. The site provides analysis of web products and trends – and we are avid visitors.

With the advent of recent workshops delving into Facebook and other social media tools, we thought to get you a link to some safety precautions we found on ReadWrite:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/5_easy_steps_to_stay_safe_and_private_on_facebook.php#more

Have Questions?

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Teamsters Communications Department at communications@teamster.org or (202) 624-6911.