As we close out the year and look forward to another year of progress for Teamster power in 2016, we look back at some of the important moments of 2015 for our union. We could not possibly mention every organizing victory and action that took place this year, but here (in no particular order) are some highlights:
- More than 13,000 San Bernardino County public employees affiliate and join Teamsters Local 1932 in California
- After a very long fight, more than 11,000 Clark County School District workers join Teamsters Local 14 in Nevada
- Teamsters nationwide fight against the job-killing Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal and fast-track trade promotion authority in Congress
- Teamsters win historic NLRB joint employer ruling in the Browning Ferris case
- Teamsters escalate the fight against misclassification and wage theft of port drivers in multiple strikes and other actions on the West Coast and the Port of Savannah
- Teamsters speak out against pension cuts, backing legislation to protect the retirement savings of thousands of workers
- Teamsters launch big legislative and media campaign - called 'Let's Get America Working' - calling for more infrastructure spending and pro-worker reforms
- Teamsters ramp up the fight against big trucks in the highway spending bill
- Teamsters launch a major campaign to demand UPS to end its membership in the anti-worker ALEC organization
- After a long Teamster-led fight to protect warehouse jobs, Sysco and US Foods call off potentially job-killing mega merger
- Teamsters nationwide leaflet Fed Ex Freight terminals in national push for fair wages and benefits at the carrier
- First Student Teamsters ratify national agreement covering more than 20,000 workers
- More than 600 Flexjet pilots vote yes to join Teamsters Local 1108
- Teamsters Local 117-backed Seattle for-hire drivers, including Uber and Lyft, win big in a City Council vote giving them the right to collective bargaining
- More than 500 Teamster transit drivers with Sun Tran, represented by Local 104 in Tucson, strike for 41 days
- Coca-Cola Teamsters strike against unfair labor practices in Chicago, Local 727
- Valet parking attendants at SLS Hotel and Casino launch an unfair labor practice strike in Vegas
- Virginia Teamsters, Local 639, strike at TW Perry construction supplier
- Teamsters in Maryland launch a campaign to stop closure of Safeway warehouse and save Teamster jobs
- Facebook drivers, members of Local 853, win their first contract; more drivers join the union
- More than 400 Orange County public employees vote to join Teamsters Local 952
- Google Express warehouse workers join Local 853
- Saint Vincent hospital tech workers vote to join Local 170 in Massachusetts
- Eco Flow port drivers choose Teamster representation with Local 848
- Teamsters ratify a new agreement covering more than 2,000 workers at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons grocery chains in Southern California
- Teamsters approve a new contract at Miller Coors covering more than 900 members; and launch protests against a proposed facility closure in North Carolina
- Teamsters, other unions ratify new agreement with American Red Cross, covering more than 1,100 Teamsters
- Republic pilots rally at shareholder meetings; ratify 3-year contract covering more than 2,000 Teamster pilots
- Supervalu Teamsters, Local 120, approve strong contract covering more than 700 members
- United Airlines Teamster mechanics rally outside shareholder meetings for a fair contract
- Teamsters and other unions successfully push back against right-to-work in Missouri and West Virginia
- More than 1,000 Teamster women gather in Boston for the 2015 Teamsters Women's Conference
- Teamsters, Teamster National Black Caucus members march in Selma on the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" of the Civil Rights Movement
- Some other organizing victories include: Allentown healthcare workers, Local 773; Coca-Cola workers, Local 773; Pepsi workers, Local 528; Roma warehouse workers and Vistar drivers and warehouse workers, Local 630; Woodbridge winery workers, Local 601; First Transit workers, Local 612; First Transit workers at Disney, Local 952; STA school bus drivers, Local 445; STA school bus workers, Local 102; Air General workers at Detroit airport, Local 283 - and many more...
- Some other contract victories include: Shippers Transport Express drivers, Local 848; Brockton custodians, Local 653; Cook DuPage Transportation paratransit employees, Local 727 - and more...
Wow - what a year! And that's not even covering everything that has happened at various conferences, locals, joint councils, and individual shops around the country.
Teamsters continued facing challenges head on and winning this year. And we're ready to keep up the fight in 2016.
