About-Teamsters | DSC Be Informed

What is the Teamsters Union?

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT, Teamsters) formed by a merger of two driver associations in 1903. The Teamsters Union is known for typically representing workers in the trucking industry, but in recent years they have ventured out to other occupations in a number of industries to increase membership numbers.

One topic that often comes to mind when discussing the Teamsters Union is corruption. This union has an infamous past with almost legendary stories of influence by organized crime, abuse by officials and disregard for its members.

Membership

In the 1970s, the Teamsters Union claimed to have 2.2 million members.

Fast forward to today and the Union has lost hundreds of thousands of members, down to about 1.2 million members.

Fewer members means less dues money, so in recent years the Teamsters Union has been recruiting everyone - parking attendants, blood collection workers - to increase membership.

Union Membership

Source: The Bureau of National Affairs

Finances

The Teamsters Union is by no means a simple organization. It is a big business, surviving on the dues of its hard-working members. The Union is required each year to file a document called an “LM-2” which reports the union’s most recent financial flow.

📄 See the Teamsters’ LM-2 Report {.UnionBlue}

The Teamsters latest LM-2 Report states that the Union collected more than $242 million in cash receipts. Yet the Teamsters spent more than $228 million.

Constitution

The Teamsters Union’s rules and regulations are designed to govern and control the activities of their members, both on and off the job - and the Teamsters Union defines that control in writing, in a very critical document - the Union Constitution.

📜 The Teamsters Union Constitution shows what’s really at stake.

Read the Fine Print

Presidential Power
The General President of the Teamsters Union has a certain power and authority that includes:

Strikes

When the Teamsters Union and the company are not able to reach agreement during collective bargaining, then negotiations are at an impasse. The company now has the right to start working under its final offer without the Union’s approval.

Teamsters, at this point, have only three options:

1. Give Up • 2. Give In • 3. Go On Strike

Calculate how much money you could lose during a strike.

Unfair Labor Practices

An Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) is a labor law violation, committed by either the company or the union.

ULPs

The labor relations statute (National Labor Relations Act or NLRA) creates rights and obligations on the part of the union, the company, and employees. If either the union or the company fails to perform its obligation to the other party, an unfair labor practice charge may be filed. A ULP charge may also be filed if either the union or the company interferes with the rights each has been given under the NLRA.

Local 20

Teamsters Local 20 is based in Toledo, Ohio, and is a part of the much larger International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) union.

Members of the union are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of local 20’s bylaws and the international union’s constitution.

What You Need to Know

Local 20 is losing members and represents just 5,412 members, according to its current financial document. In fact, the local has only won 7 elections for new members in the last 10 years.
The local has taken 153 workers out on strikes lasting a combined 190 days since 2017, including a 2017 strike against Maple City Ice that lasted over 4 months.
Since 2014, 36 unfair labor practice charges have been filed against local 20.

IBT Local 20 Membership