Teamsters Local 311

Local 311 News Update

May 1934: Minneapolis Truckers Make History
May 16, 2012 | In 1934, Teamsters Local 574 In Minneapolis set out on a campaign to organize all the transportation workers in the city. When employers refused to recognize the union, Local 574 struck the city's trucking companies. What followed ultimately transformed a city and played a decisive role in the history of organized labor in the U.S. Learn more at 1934 Minneapolis Strike.

Donna Carr Sworn in as Local Union Trustee
May 7, 2012 | Donna Carr joined Local 311's Executive Board effective Thursday, May 2, 2012, during a meeting of Teamsters 62 Joint Council in Baltimore. Donna is a bloodmobile driver for the American Red Cross and has been a member of Local 311 since 2002 when AMR workers joined Local 311. She has a long history of union membership: Donna was previously a member of the Operating Engineering LU 37 in Baltimore for 14 years. She was appointed to finish the remainder of Rufus Black's term of office. Above, Donna takes the oath of office administered by Joint Council and Teamsters Local 355 President Denis Taylor.

Tell Congress to Restore Fairness and Pass the Buffett Rule *
Apr. 11, 2012 | Take a minute to fill out the Teamsters online form here to contact your Senators in Congress today and ask that they support the Buffett Rule (S. 2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012) that is scheduled for a vote next Monday. The measure is designed to restore fairness and ensure that everyone plays by the same set of rules. It's simple: if you make more than $1 million a year, you should pay at elate the same percentage of your income taxes as middle class families do. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year - like 98% of American families do - your taxes should not go up. It's time that everyone pays their fair share. The middle class should not be left to bear the brunt of the costs of our society, while the most fortunate in our country take advantage of tax loopholes. * Update - Senate Republicans derailed the bill Monday, despite overwhelming voter support for the fair tax on millionaires.

Please Note! May Membership Meeting Re-scheduled
Apr. 6, 2012 | Our regular monthly membership meeting for May will be held Tuesday, May 15, (the third Tuesday of the month). It will start promptly at the regular time - 6:00 P.M. Bring a coworker. See you there!

Affordable Health Care Act Benefits Outlined in New Guide
Mar. 9, 2012 | With all the talk about repealing the Affordable Care Act, you may be looking for information about the law's benefits for you and your family. First, get a personalized report over at AARP's Health Care Guide, an online tool offered in English and Spanish that provides you with an individually tailored report outlining coverage details based on your existing coverage or what other health coverage you may be eligible to get. Then check out "What Repeal Would Mean to Me?" to find out what's at stake if opponents of the law succeed in overturning the Act, or scraping portions of its protections.

Politicians Waging War on Workers Face Political Risk
Feb. 8, 2012 | "Already this year, state lawmakers have opened brutal new fronts in the war on workers. And America's workers are fighting back as never before," President Hoffa wrote in a Detroit News op-ed today. "In Michigan, anti-worker bills aimed at weakening labor unions are gaining traction in the House. HB 5025, for example, would require employees' annual written authorization to have their union dues deducted from their paychecks. Working families in Indiana, Florida and Arizona are under especially fierce attack. State politicians loyal to their Wall Street paymasters are trying to lower workers' wages, benefits and safety. They're trying to turn taxpayer assets over to for-profit corporations, along with fat contracts and tax giveaways, at the expense of government employees..." Read more at Local News Items.

List of Recent Contract Agreements Posted
Jan. 11, 2012 - Check the link Member Info for an update on Local 311 collective bargaining agreements ratified recently.

Elsewhere in the News

Judge Overturns Rules on Union Votes

May 15, 2012 | A federal judge on Monday struck down new regulations governing union elections, saying the National Labor Relations Board did not follow proper voting procedures when it approved the rules last year. Judge James E. Boasberg of United States District Court said the board had lacked a quorum when it voted on the rules that expedite union representation elections. He did not address the merits of the rules and said the board could simply vote again. Business groups and Republicans had challenged the rules, which took effect April 30, saying they did not give managers enough time to counter union organizers. Unions contend the new rules curb needless litigation used to stall the election process. Under the decision, the old rules apply. Full story here.

President Hoffa's response: "This is just another attack on workers and the American middle class. The decision lets anti-worker extremists game the system...The board and the courst must reconsider this issue as soon as possible so that the board can do its job of protecting workers' rights."

The Trade Agreement You Never Heard About

May 14, 2012 | Did you know, beyond closed doors, there is a massive trade agreement being crafted? Its called TPP or Trans Pacific Partnership and this one makes NAFTA look like the stepping stone that it is. This is one bad mother. This is a trade agreement between Chile, Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the United States. Japan as well as China may also join. The countries involved isn't the problem. What's being negotiated is. TPP will outlaw Buy American. Full story at Economic Populist. Sign the petition imploring U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to "stop the secrecy and publicly release all TPP proposals."