James P. Hoffa - Organizing Successes

Organizing Successes

In recent years, Hoffa has led a resurgence of the Teamsters resulting in a net increase of members in 2007, the first year of net growth in the union in nearly three decades.

Recent significant organizing victories include more than 12,600 workers at UPS Freight, 9,000 mechanics at United Airlines, 22,000 school bus drivers at First Student/FirstGroup since 2006 under the union’s Drive Up Standards campaign, 3,200 customer service representatives at America West Airlines, and nearly 900 crewmembers of Atlas Air, Inc. and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide. More recently, on November 20, 2009, more than 1,700 school bus workers employed at the Baumann transportation companies on Long Island joined the union.

The organizing victory at UPS Freight was particularly noteworthy, because it is the former Overnite Transportation, which the union struggled to organize for many years. The campaign got a major boost when UPS purchased Overnite, and it became UPS Freight.

“This is the largest organizing victory in the freight industry in 25 years. We were amazed that at the 90-day mark of our national campaign, 9,900 workers had signed cards. This shows the workers' commitment in joining a union that will give them a strong voice in the workplace.”

“We announced two goals for the Teamsters in 2008: To organize 40,000 workers and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States. I am proud to say that thanks to the hard work by so many in our union, the Teamsters delivered on both promises.”

The union’s successful organizing plan has emphasized the Teamster core industries—particularly those in the global supply chain—and the management of Hoffa and the Teamsters Organizing Department involved the entire union. The bulk of the organizing resulted from coordinated, disciplined campaigns in which numerous Teamster local unions and Joint Councils participated.

Organizing has been a main theme of Hoffa’s administration, culminating in 2005, when the Teamsters Union left the AFL-CIO to found the new Change to Win Federation with emphasis on organizing and growth. The union has achieved an annual increase in organizing gains every year since, with 2008 marking a record-breaking year. Hundreds of volunteer member organizers have arranged worker-to-worker contacts between Teamsters and unorganized workers in the same craft.

In September 2009, the Teamsters began a project to recruit and train 1,000 member organizers before the end of 2009 to be ready when the Employee Free Choice Act is passed.

“There is no better spokesperson for the Teamsters than a Teamster like you,” Hoffa said. “… We are engaged in national campaigns that will test the resources of the union. Without a mighty army of Teamster member organizers, we’re not going to get it done.”

“We formed our union with the Teamsters so we could have an opportunity to negotiate for fair pay, benefits and equal treatment,” said Nicole Miles, a monitor at First Student in Parkville, Missouri and Local 838 member. “Coming from a Teamster family, I supported the Teamsters because I wanted to be part of a union that will support me. I’m proud of our vote to join the Teamsters.”