Teamsters
Teamsters Land Industry-Leading Deal at United Airlines
(WASHINGTON) – The Teamsters Union has reached an agreement in principle with United Airlines (UA) on a new contract for more than 11,000 mechanics and related employees nationwide, delivering a major victory after nearly two years of relentless bargaining and member-led contract action. The full bargaining committee, made up of UA business agents and rank-and-filers, voted 19-to-12 to recommend the agreement in principle to members for ratification.
The victory secures industry-leading wage increases and clear job protections, accelerates progression to top pay from eight years to five, and delivers a $54 million signing bonus upon ratification, which will provide payments of $5,000 to each member. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters fully recommends ratification of this agreement.
The contract breakthrough follows an aggressive campaign by the Teamsters Union. Throughout bargaining, Teamsters fought for an industry-leading agreement that reflects members’ critical work maintaining one of the largest airline fleets in the world and keeping millions of passengers safe.
“For nearly two years, Teamsters at United stared down a multibillion-dollar corporation and demanded a contract worthy of their skills and the huge profits they generate,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Our members took on one of the biggest airlines in the world and won. This agreement will raise the bar for every airline worker in America. The Teamsters standard just went up again. We are proud to recommend this powerful, industry-leading contract.”
The new agreement in principle secures significant gains for members, including:
A $54 million signing bonus upon ratification
Industry-leading wage increases
An accelerated wage progression to top-of-scale pay
Two-year extension of the Retiree Bridge Medical Plan
Expedited grievance and arbitration process
The Teamsters UA committee will finalize language and provide members with final details as soon as possible. Once a tentative agreement is complete, members will have the opportunity to review the full contract and vote for ratification.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 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.
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Yankton County Sheriff’s Deputies Vote Unanimously for Teamsters Representation
(YANKTON, S.D.) – Sheriff’s deputies in Yankton County, South Dakota, have voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 120.
“Those who protect and serve our communities deserve the protection of a strong union,” said James Heeren, a business agent at Local 120. “The Teamsters Union proudly represents more than 26,000 law enforcement and public safety workers nationwide and is well-positioned to negotiate the best possible contract for Yankton County sheriff’s deputies. With a unanimous vote to become Teamsters, they will now have the backing of 1.3 million brothers and sisters.”
The sheriff’s deputies organized so they can have a greater say in the workplace over issues that impact them and the community members they serve.
“We wanted representation and a seat at the table so we could have a voice in the decisions that affect us,” said Austin Schuller, a sheriff’s deputy and new member of Local 120. “We chose the Teamsters because they’re the strongest union in North America. Now our voices will be heard, and we’ll stand together for the respect and fairness we deserve.”
Teamsters Local 120 proudly represents over 15,000 workers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For more information, go to teamsterslocal120.org.
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Maryland Teamsters Launch Strike at Verbal Beginnings
(ROCKVILLE, Md.) – Workers at Verbal Beginnings in Rockville, represented by Teamsters Local 639, have been forced onto the picket line by their employer’s refusal to bargain a fair first collective bargaining agreement. The 33 workers serve as registered behavioral technicians and provide early intervention and other services to children on the autism spectrum.
“Teamsters at Verbal Beginnings provide essential, highly skilled services that families in this community depend on every day,” said William Davis, President of Local 639. “These workers show up for vulnerable children in one of the country’s most expensive counties, and they deserve a contract that recognizes their dedication, skill, and sacrifice.”
The workers voted overwhelmingly last year to join the Teamsters and have been fighting for a fair first contract ever since. Key issues in negotiations include wages and the company’s attempt to eliminate their 40-hour work week.
“First and foremost, we are fighting for the wellbeing of the kids we work with,” said Collin Johnson, a registered behavioral technician and member of Local 639. “Every one of us cares deeply about the work we do, and we just want to be fairly compensated and respected in order to be able to serve our community to the best of our abilities.”
Teamsters Local 639 has represented workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 1934. For more information, go to teamsters639.com.
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Rhode Island Teamsters Endorse Dan McKee for Governor
(EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – Today, Teamsters Local 251 endorsed Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee’s re-election campaign.
“We support candidates who we know will keep their word to us, and when it comes to that standard, the choice in this race couldn’t be more obvious,” said Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251. “Rhode Islanders need to know that if they care about workers’ rights, middle-class prosperity, and electing leaders who will listen to workers instead of billionaires, there’s only one good option, and that’s Governor McKee.”
Since taking office in 2021, McKee has been one of the most pro-Teamsters governors in the country. He has signed legislation banning mandatory attendance at anti-union propaganda meetings, preventing abusive production quotas in warehouses, and creating the first-ever statewide prevailing wage for school bus workers.
“Governor McKee understands something simple. When you respect the people who get our children to and from school every day, you create better, safer student transportation systems,” said Denise Handley, a school bus attendant for Ocean State Transit and Local 251 shop steward.
In addition to Gov. McKee, Rhode Island Teamsters are endorsing Sabina Matos for Lieutenant Governor, Jack Reed for U.S. Senate, Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner for Congress, Gregg Amore for Secretary of State, and James A. Diossa for General Treasurer.
Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,200 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, go to teamsters251.org.
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Kilcoy Global Foods Workers Join Teamsters
(MUNDELEIN, Ill.) – Over 140 workers at Kilcoy Global Foods in Mundelein, Ill., have voted overwhelmingly, 127-4, to join Teamsters Local 301.
“This is a huge victory for the hardworking men and women at Kilcoy Global Foods,” said Michael Haffner, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 301. “A big thank you to our organizing team led by Netza Rodriguez and the workers at Kilcoy for staying together. Local 301 is ready to stand alongside our brothers and sisters as they negotiate a first contract.”
Workers at the facility process and package meat and various protein products for major retailers such as Costco and Trader Joe’s.
“Standing your ground against multibillion-dollar companies isn’t easy,” said Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division. “From Kilcoy to DFA to Nestlé, we are seeing the same thing. Workers deserve respect, fair treatment, and a real voice on the job — and Teamsters will fight to secure those basic rights.”
These new members are now ready to negotiate their first contract that will provide them with better wages, benefits, and workplace conditions.
“Every product that leaves this plant reflects the hard work and skill we bring to our jobs,” said Clemente Trejo, a worker at the Kilcoy facility and member of Local 301. “We know that we play a significant role in feeding families across the country. We just want a contract that reflects our value and allows us to feed our children, too.”
Teamsters Local 301 represents more than 1,200 workers throughout Northeast Illinois. For more information, visit teamsters301.org.
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DC Teamsters, Labor Coalition Demand City Council Reject Anti-Worker Waymo Bill
(WASHINGTON) – Teamsters were joined by members of Service Employees International Union 32BJ and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 in testifying at a hearing today to demand Washington, D.C. councilmembers oppose Bill 26-0684, the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Deployment Authorization Amendment Act. The legislation would allow fully driverless robotaxis, including those owned by Waymo, to operate in the District of Columbia.
“We’re calling on the city council to reject B26-0684 because the so-called ‘guardrails’ in this bill fail to protect workers, and this legislation doesn’t benefit anyone outside of Silicon Valley billionaires,” said Bill Davis, President of Teamsters Local 639. “It is yet another example of Big Tech companies trying to steamroll cities into changing laws to accommodate them, and it comes at the expense of middle-class professional drivers and anyone else who wants safer streets in our city.”
AVs remain unpopular with voters and legislation to legalize them has failed to pass in every state where it’s been introduced this year, including Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Washington, and neighboring Maryland and Virginia.
“Driverless cars would be a disaster for someone like me,” said Demani Petron-King, a member of Local 639. “This job is how I provide for my family, pay my bills, and have amazing health care. We can’t call driverless vehicles progress when they will hurt so many communities. The well-being of people like me should not be the price our society pays for innovation.”
Teamsters Local 639 has represented workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 1934. For more information, go to teamsters639.com.
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22,000 University of California Teamsters Ratify Strongest Contract Ever
(OAKLAND, Calif.) – After 10 months of intense bargaining, Teamsters Local 2010 members in the statewide Clerical and Allied Services (CX) bargaining unit at University of California (UC) have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The CX unit is made up of more than 22,000 clerical workers and administrative professionals at all UC campuses and medical centers throughout the state of California.
“This agreement is better than anything we’ve ever dreamed of and is the best deal I have seen in 28 years as a member of the CX unit,” said Toni Mendicino, an administrative officer 2 at UC Berkeley and Local 2010 steward. “This sets a standard for public employers across the country and is incredibly meaningful for us — the lucky clericals, childcare workers, and cashiers — who make the UC succeed!”
The new contract provides unprecedented economic gains and benefits protections, including an immediate seven percent raise retroactive to July 1, a $1,500 lump-sum ratification payment, compounded raises totaling an average of 37 percent over the five years of the agreement, and a longevity bonus. The contract also contains numerous other improvements, such as stronger caps on increases to workers’ health care premiums, employer-provided subsidies for certain health plans, caps on parking fee increases, an additional paid personal day for all workers, and three additional days of bereavement leave.
“This historic contract represents the strongest collective bargaining agreement in the history of the CX unit,” said Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 2010. “We won by standing together as Teamsters and building our union into a powerhouse for workers’ rights. Congratulations to all our members and our elected bargaining team for their strength and determination. When we fight, we win!”
Teamsters Local 2010 represents 28,000 hard-working employees at the University of California system, California State University system, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. We are affiliated with the 1.3 million members of the Teamsters Union across the United States and Canada. Learn more at teamsters2010.org.
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Vestis Teamsters Launch ULP Strike in Indianapolis
(INDIANPOLIS) – Workers at Vestis, represented by Teamsters Local 135, have launched an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike. The 29 route sales support and route sales representatives were forced to strike after the company threatened workers for engaging in protected concerted activity — rights that are guaranteed under the National Labor Relations Act.
“Vestis Teamsters are tired of being disrespected by their employer,” said Dustin Roach, President of Local 135. “Instead of negotiating, management has already hired temporary replacement workers. When a company chooses to rely on inexperienced scabs instead of addressing its unfair labor practices and bargaining in good faith, everyone pays the price.”
In addition to fighting back against the company’s unlawful behavior, workers are striking for fair pay and benefits that honor the hard work they put in every day.
“I’ve worked at Vestis for 10 years, and we’ve had enough,” said Jay White, a route sales representative for Vestis and Local 135 Chief Steward. “Management threatened workers for exercising our protected rights while pushing a nearly cost-neutral contract. We deserve better, and we’ll stay on the picket line until this company stops violating our rights, bargains in good faith, and addresses our issues and concerns.”
Teamsters Local 135 represents over 12,000 members in over a dozen Teamsters divisions. The local’s mission is to organize for the strongest contracts possible, hold companies accountable, and ensure that workers’ voices are heard. For more information, go to local135.com.
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Ready-Mix Drivers at Heidelberg Materials on Unfair Labor Practice Strike
(PITTSBURGH) – Concrete ready-mix drivers represented by Teamsters Local 249 at the Heidelberg Materials Pittsburgh Concrete Plant have been forced out on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike after the company refused to bargain in good faith during negotiations.
Local 249 has represented members at the company for over 30 years. The unit of 11 ready-mix drivers is on the picket line after the company failed twice to offer a fair contract that addresses issues such as first-year pay, health care, and pensions. Heidelberg Teamsters have also faced retaliation for refusing to agree to the company’s concessionary offers.
“These drivers are responsible for all of Heidelberg’s ready-mix operations in Allegheny County, yet the company has shown them nothing but disrespect during negotiations,” said Kevin Schmitt, President of Local 249. “Heidelberg Teamsters will not rest until the company returns with a contract that reflects the value our members bring to work every single day.”
Drivers at Heidelberg Materials have raised concerns about the company’s insistence on cutting union work rules in favor of corporate policies in the agreement. Contract language drivers are fighting against includes weaker seniority provisions, fewer worker protections against disciplinary action, and less union input on inward-facing cameras that film drivers on the job.
“Rather than bargain with us fairly, Heidelberg Materials is forcing us to strike to protect our livelihoods as Teamsters,” said Slava Barvik, a 19-year driver at Heidelberg Materials and member of Local 249. “We will not throw away work rules our union has negotiated over three decades just because the company wants us to. Heidelberg needs to stop with the games and come back to the table to bargain with us seriously.”
Heidelberg Teamsters will remain on the picket line until the company ends its unfair labor practices and returns to contract negotiations in good faith.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 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.
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Ohio Conference of Teamsters Announce 2026 Congressional Endorsements
(AKRON, Ohio) – Today, the Ohio Conference of Teamsters announced its endorsements in Ohio’s 2026 congressional races, backing Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) for the U.S. Senate and a bipartisan slate of candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives who have demonstrated their commitment to workers’ rights and advancing the Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA).
The Conference endorsed for the U.S. House of Representatives Greg Landsman (D-1st District), Joyce Beatty (D-3rd District), Michael Rulli (R-6th District), Max Miller (R-7th District), Marcy Kaptur (D-9th District), Mike Turner (R-10th District), Shontel Brown (D-11th District), Emilia Sykes (D-13th District), David Joyce (R-14th District), and Mike Carey (R-15th District).
“We’ve endorsed this bipartisan coalition of candidates because they’ve proven they’re willing to take on Corporate America and advocate on behalf of our members in Congress,” said Pat Darrow, President of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters. “We don’t care about party affiliation — we care about whether our elected officials will empower workers and create middle-class union jobs. The majority of voters throughout our state feel the same way.”
Brown has spent decades fighting for Teamsters in Ohio and across the country. He successfully led the legislative battle to protect earned pension benefits for Teamsters retirees, introduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Teamsters on the picket line and at the bargaining table. If elected, Brown has committed to co-sponsoring the Faster Labor Contracts Act in the Senate.
Every incumbent candidate endorsed by the Ohio Conference of Teamsters voted for the Faster Labor Contracts Act in June. The Teamsters-backed bill which would become the strongest labor law in decades, streamlining the bargaining process for newly organized workers to secure their first union contract.
“The FLCA is a make-or-break issue for our endorsement, and this slate of candidates is committed to getting it across the finish line,” Darrow said. “We look forward to helping elect them in November.”
The Ohio Conference of Teamsters represents over 50,000 workers throughout the state. For more information, go to ohioteamsters.org.
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