LaRue Clerk Craft Dispatch Coordinator National Award with Memo
In his first national-level arbitration Article 19 award for the APWU and the Postal Service, Arbitrator Homer LaRue reviewed the Postal Service’s new Dispatch Coordinator position to determine whether it complied with the National Agreement and was fair, reasonable, and equitable. APWU and USPS, Case No. 6X21C-6X-C23174015 (LaRue 2026). Arbitrator LaRue took testimony from postal […]
The post LaRue Clerk Craft Dispatch Coordinator National Award with Memo appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.
Teamsters Organize Third IKEA Location in North America
(JOLIET, Ill.) – More than 190 workers at IKEA’s distribution center in Joliet, Ill., have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 179. The win marks the third successful Teamsters organizing effort at the company in North America, signaling growing momentum to unionize the world’s largest furniture retailer.
“We work hard every day to keep this operation running, and we deserve respect and a say in our workplace. We knew the Teamsters could give us that voice,” said Kathy Kasher, an IKEA worker and new member of Local 179. “We have long needed better pay, better benefits, and a better future for our families. We are going to go for all those things and more when we negotiate a powerful Teamsters contract.”
Workers at the Joliet distribution center play a critical role in moving furniture and home goods across the Midwest and throughout the company’s supply chain. IKEA reported more than $1.7 billion in net profits last year.
“We look forward to providing IKEA workers with the tough representation they deserve,” said Chris Richter, President of Local 179. “I want to congratulate our newest members and stand ready to fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.”
“IKEA workers chose to become Teamsters because they wanted a union that delivers real results when it comes to representing members and securing strong contracts,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “We are committed to helping these new members get the protections they deserve and will be ready to take on this company with the full backing of the International Union.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
The post Teamsters Organize Third IKEA Location in North America appeared first on International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Teamsters Celebrate Life of Longtime Leader R.V. Durham
Ralph Vinson “R.V.” Durham, who led Teamsters Local 391 for more than a quarter century, passed away on March 17, 2026.
From a young age, Durham understood the value of a hard day’s work, delivering newspapers, laboring in cotton fields, and helping in his family’s restaurant. Those early lessons shaped a lifetime commitment to fighting for dignity on the job.
He began his Teamsters journey in 1950 as a truck driver for Roadway Express at 19 years old. He learned the job from the ground up, earning the respect of the rank-and-file members he would one day lead at Local 391. A year later, he married Ethel “Skeets” McDaniels, and together they built a family, raising two children.
Over a remarkable 45-year career, Durham rose through the ranks — first as a business agent, then as Secretary-Treasurer, and ultimately as President, a position he held from 1969 to 1995. Even as his responsibilities grew, he led with the perspective of someone who had done the work himself, earning the trust of the membership and never losing sight of who he represented.
In 1973, Durham took his fight to Washington, D.C., where he founded and led the Teamsters Safety and Health Department while serving as International Vice President on the General Executive Board. He appeared numerous times before Congress and worked closely with OSHA to strengthen worker protections.
Drawing on his experience behind the wheel, Durham worked across multiple presidential administrations. Appointed by Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan to the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee, he pushed back against harmful deregulation that threatened the livelihoods of Teamsters in the trucking industry. He understood what was at stake because he had lived it.
At a time when the trucking industry faced growing threats, Durham became a national voice for protecting worker safety and union rights. Still, he never stepped away from his local, commuting from Winston-Salem, N.C., to Washington several days a week as he continued to serve as President of Local 391.
In 1991, during the first direct election of International Union officers by the rank-and-file, Durham ran for General President, bringing his message of strong, member-driven leadership to Teamsters across the country. He later returned home to Local 391, where he continued to serve for another five years before retiring.
Retirement didn’t slow him down. Durham remained a constant presence at the Local 391 union hall, regularly attending membership meetings and staying connected to the union he loved. He was known for his steady optimism, his deep loyalty, and his unwavering belief in the power of working people standing together.
“The strength of our union is built on leaders like R.V. Durham — people who came up from the shop floor, never forgot where they came from, and spent their lives fighting to make things better for the next generation,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “R.V. represented the best of the Teamsters. He dedicated his life to protecting members, raising industry standards, and proving what solidarity can achieve. Our union is stronger because of him, and our thoughts are with the Durham family.”
Outside the union, Durham enjoyed traveling, visiting destinations across the United States and Europe with his family. He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and four siblings. His legacy lives on in the generations of Teamsters he mentored, the contracts he helped secure, and the union he devoted his life to advancing.
The post Teamsters Celebrate Life of Longtime Leader R.V. Durham appeared first on International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Clerk Craft Wins National Article 19 Award Regarding Dispatch Coordinator Position
In his first national-level arbitration Article 19 award for the APWU and the Postal Service, Arbitrator Homer LaRue reviewed the Postal Service’s new Dispatch Coordinator position to determine whether it complied with the National Agreement and was fair, reasonable, and equitable. APWU and USPS, Case No. 6X21C-6X-C23174015 (LaRue 2026). Arbitrator LaRue took testimony from postal […]
The post Clerk Craft Wins National Article 19 Award Regarding Dispatch Coordinator Position appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.
Article 1.5 Clerk Craft Jobs MOU Interim National Arbitration Award
On March 4, 2026, Arbitrator Margo Newman issued an interim award holding that the APWU’s Clerk Craft Jobs MOU Step 4 grievance may proceed to arbitration at the national level. The decision clears the way for the APWU to litigate on the merits of its claim that the Postal Service violated Article 1.5, the Clerk […]
The post Article 1.5 Clerk Craft Jobs MOU Interim National Arbitration Award appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.
Pollard Banknote Teamsters Ratify Contract
(YPSILANTI, Mich.) – Nearly 200 printing and production workers represented by Teamsters Local 337 in Ypsilanti, Mich., have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a powerful new contract. Backed by a credible strike threat and high rank-and-file engagement, the workers secured record raises, protections against forced overtime, and major improvements to retirement benefits.
“This agreement fixes a lot of the wrongs we were experiencing on the job. We got strong pay increases retroactive for months. For the first time, we enshrined our retirement security into our contract. And we locked in guarantees that Pollard Banknote cannot force us to work extreme amounts of overtime,” said Jeremy Helton, a 10-year maintenance technician and steward for Local 337. “This contract shows what workers can accomplish when we stick together. It would not have been possible without the support of Local 337 and the commitment of my fellow stewards and the rest of our brothers and sisters on the shop floor.”
The bargaining unit includes press operators, machine technicians and assistants, and folder operators and assistants. They produce lottery tickets for several states and countries. Helton and his co-workers are part of a growing movement of graphics workers who have left the sham Printing Packaging and Production Workers Union to gain strong representation in the workplace with the Teamsters.
“These new Teamsters went through a lot just to join our ranks. During the organizing process, we saw their strength and determination firsthand, so it was no surprise to see how engaged they were throughout bargaining,” said Todd Lince, President of Local 337. “The gains these workers secured are a testament to a lot of hard work. We are beyond proud to have them as part of the Local 337 family.”
Teamsters Local 337 represents over 6,000 workers from a range of industries throughout Michigan. For more information, go to TeamstersLocal337.com.
The post Pollard Banknote Teamsters Ratify Contract appeared first on International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
APWU National Executive Board Votes Unanimously to Join No Kings Coalition, Cosponsor March 28 National Mobilization
As the Trump administration’s threats of postal privatization and attacks on Vote-by-Mail continue to escalate, APWU leadership is once again mobilizing to defend our public Postal Service and the communities we serve. The APWU National Executive Board (NEB) voted unanimously to join the No Kings Coalition and co-sponsor its March 28 National Day of Action, […]
The post APWU National Executive Board Votes Unanimously to Join No Kings Coalition, Cosponsor March 28 National Mobilization appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.
Women’s History Month Profiles: Dorothy Hollingsworth
Women’s History Month Profiles: Dorothy Hollingsworth
For Women’s History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women’s history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is Dorothy Hollingsworth of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).
ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873 member Dorothy Hollingsworth has been a union member for 54 years. A food service employee at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Hollingsworth takes great pride in her work, which she approaches with passion and attention to detail.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 03/20/2026 – 09:57
Tags:
Women’s History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Union Ratifies New Agreement with Leidos
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Union Ratifies New Agreement with Leidos
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
IAM Union (IAM) members who work as flight service workers in Virginia and Texas have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with their employer, Leidos.The new contract covering the Locals 2010 and 2011 bargaining units contains a number of major wins that reflect the essential work members perform. Highlights include structured annual pay increases through the lifetime of the deal, higher wage premiums for Sunday shifts, improved retirement fund contributions and more.“This agreement reflects the voices and priorities of our members,” said Chief Steward Clay Dawson. “By listening to our members and negotiating collectively, we were able to secure stronger wages, improved benefits, and protections that help guarantee job security for the next three years.”“This adjustment prevents management from using overly aggressive performance metrics as a justification to reduce staffing,” said IAM Local 2011 President David Villa. “It ensures our members can provide quality service while maintaining stable employment. This contract was built on solidarity. Our locals worked side by side to make sure the final agreement protects benefits, secures future raises, and strengthens the foundation for our members’ careers.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 03/20/2026 – 09:52
Advanced Women’s Leadership Program Builds New Generation of Union Activists at Winpisinger Center
At the IAM Union’s William W Winpisinger Education Center (W3) Center, a growing Advanced Women’s Leadership program is helping reshape the future of leadership—placing a strong emphasis on ethical stewardship, mentorship and professional development. The program, designed to prepare women for higher leadership roles, centers on a core principle: leadership is not just authority, but
The post Advanced Women’s Leadership Program Builds New Generation of Union Activists at Winpisinger Center appeared first on IAM Union.