Teamster Nation Podcast: Standing united, demanding racial justice
June 3, 2020 | Listen to the latest special edition of the Teamster Nation Podcast and hear how the Teamsters are demanding racial justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Plus, get the latest news from the Passenger Transportation Division, and learn about the challenges facing Local 922 transit workers in the nation’s capital. Click here to listen.

Baltimore to ease some restrictions Monday, June 8
June 5, 2020 | Mayor Young announced today that the city is moving into phase one of recovery, with some coronavirus-related restrictions lifted beginning Monday. His three-stage reopening plan varies slightly from state guidelines. (Gov. Hogan said Wednesday the state is moving into the second phase of his three-phase opening plan.) Learn more... Baltimore Sun

Contract extension approved at Bond 
June 5, 2020 | Warehouse and delivery workers at Bond Distributing Company in Baltimore agreed last week to a one-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement. Local 570 represents more than 80 employees at the wholesale company, a distributor of Miller/Coors beverages, including beer and ale. Photo: (L-R) Business agent Bill Heil, Local 570 President Rich Brown, and long-time delivery steward, Glenn Fewster before the vote

Teamsters launch resources website for essential workers
June 10, 2020 | During this public health crisis, bosses aren’t keeping workers safe, the federal government isn’t keeping workers safe, workers are keeping each other safe. We see workers across the country coming together to make their workplace safer and improve work standards and we want all workers to know we’ve got your back… Visit us at solidarityisessential.org

Local 570 provides assistance to members laid-off due to pandemic
June 10, 2020 | So the good news is that 98% of our members are considered essential workers and continue to report to work every day. The unfortunate news is that some of our members working in the dairy, food distribution, and student transportation industries were negatively impacted by Maryland’s stay-at-home order implemented to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to do something to help our members and ease the blow of losing their job. We purchased gift cards that can be used to help defray expenses. If you are among our laid-off members and have not yet received a gift card, call the Local Union office (410-284-5081) to make arrangements to receive your card.

Today in DC: Workers First Caravan for Racial + Economic Justice
June 17, 2020 | More than a thousand union members will hits DC streets today in the Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice, the headline event of a massive national mobilization with hundreds of actions calling for bold policies to confront the three crises facing America: a public health pandemic, an economic free fall and long-standing structural racism. The Workers First Caravan is organized by AFSCME, AFT, IUPAT, IBT, UFCW, UNITE HERE and the AFL-CIO… More at DC Labor

COVID-19 and the food supply chain
June 17, 2020 | In the latest edition of the Teamsters Podcast you’ll hear how union members took action all around the country last week to demand increase safety precautions for food supply chain workers. Plus, Teamsters Safety and Health Department Director Lamont Byrd tells lawmakers more must be done to protect truckers. Listen here.

Update from the Teamsters Dairy and Food Processing Divisions
June 18, 2020 | In many parts of the country, the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of abating and society has begun the process of returning to some semblance of normalcy. Those of you who are on the frontlines of the food supply chain, however, still go to work every day with the concern of infection on the forefront of your minds. Your Teamster brothers and sisters all across the country share these concerns and are acting accordingly. Last week, the Teamsters held a day of action demanding… Continue reading here

COVID-19 update: Openings & restrictions in our area
June 19, 2020 | We’ve updated our COVID-19 Outbreak Resources for Members. While restrictions on businesses and social activity are gradually lifting in states where our members live and work, their governors and public-health experts warn that lifting restrictions to allow openings have the potential to cause a second wave of coronavirus infections. You can do what you need to do to stop coronavirus so you and others stay safe and well: Wash your hands often. Wear a mask. Keep a safe distance. And read the update here. Related: Baltimore eases coronavirus restrictions as city moves to Phase 2 of recovery

Teamsters join other unions in demand for racial, economic justice
June 22, 2020 | Teamsters joined with fellow union members in the nation’s capital and across the country last week to participate in the Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice, a massive mobilization calling for bold policies to confront the coronavirus pandemic, an economic free fall and long-standing structural racism. Some 1,000 cars met up at locations in Silver Spring, Md. and Arlington, Va. before heading to Capitol Hill, where they drove around the U.S. Capitol demanding passage of the HEROES Act, which would boost worker safety rules, secure pensions and make necessary funds available to state and local governments to keep them up and running and their workers employed… Read more here.

Update from the Bakery and Laundry Division
June 22, 2020 | The future trajectory of the pandemic remains unpredictable, with COVID-19 cases rising in some states and decreasing in others. Those of you working on the front lines, as our bakery and laundry workers are doing, still go to work every day with the concern of infection. Your Teamster brothers and sisters across the country share those concerns and are acting accordingly. On June 10, the Teamsters held a day of action demanding that employers and the government take action to protect workers like you. In more than 30 cities… Continue reading here

Update from the Brewery and Soft Drink Division
June 25, 2020 | Our industry has not been as hard hit as some during the COVID-19 pandemic mainly due to consumer demand. According to Drinks International (see Source, below) wine and beer sales increased dramatically in March. But, the uptick in sales with e-commerce and retail was counterbalanced by the shutdown of bars and restaurants. I have reports from brewery and soft drink local unions that production is ramping up for the seasonal period. Also, members that were on voluntary layoff are returning to work now. With the Independence Day holiday approaching… Continue reading here.

Teamsters demand Republic Services end abuse of Black workers in Atlanta
June 25, 2020 | Republic Services workers and members of Teamsters Local 728 are demanding Republic Services put an end to Black worker abuse following the unjust termination and layoffs of five Black workers in Atlanta this past month. Last week, Republic Services workers held protests outside the Atlanta facility calling on the company to immediately rehire the five workers who were unjustly terminated and support the lives and livelihoods of their workers of color. The actions were part of the AFL-CIO’s nationwide protests demanding racial and economic justice for all workers both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.

Update from the Solid Waste & Recycling Division
June 29, 2020 | Members of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division are still on the front lines of this pandemic, keeping our communities clean and protecting the public health from spread. We continue to be in regular contact with Waste Management Inc. (WMI) and Waste Connections to ensure our members are protected on the job. As many of you know, WMI has been negotiating plans to acquire Advanced Disposal Services. Due to the pandemic, the deal has been renegotiated and should take effect in the coming weeks. We are closely watching this merger and will be working with our Teamster brothers and sisters in Canada as we see more consolidation in the private waste industry… Continue reading here.

Hoffa: Changes to guest worker programs will help protect U.S. livelihoods
June 30, 2020 | In a statement released yesterday about a White House effort to temporarily curtail guest worker programs during the current economic downturn, General President Hoffa said, “U.S. workers are facing a nearly unprecedented loss of jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Given the current conditions, it only makes sense to prioritize the lives and the livelihoods of hardworking Americans and protect their wages…” Continue reading Hoffa’s statement here.