Global Solidarity Pledged to Support Organizing the Global Supply Chain

The Convention of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters unanimously passed a resolution on
"Organizing the Global Supply Chain," representatives from transport unions
in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and Australia joined Teamsters
General President James Hoffa in a show of solidarity and support.
"Teamsters are uniquely positioned to dominate the global supply chain
in the United States. That's why we are aggressively organizing in the air
cargo, ports, rail, freight and parcel delivery links in the chain," Hoffa
said.
The Teamsters Union has the opportunity to combine their strength with
unions around the world to take on the global transportation companies like
UPS, FedEx, TNT and DHL to ensure that the workers who move the goods along
the chain have a voice.
"Workers in Australia deal with the same global companies," said Tony
Sheldon, National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union of Australia.
"We recognize the need for a global collective response and we are proud to
add our voice and our strength to the struggle alongside the Teamsters."
"Our union has a long history with DHL and we understand the stakes
involved for workers in dealing with this changing world economy," said
Rolf Buttner, Federal Executive of Germany's United Services Union, ver.di.
"We must stand together across the globe to make sure that workers'
interests and rights are protected and strengthened."
"Transport workers in Great Britain stand shoulder to shoulder with our
brothers and sisters in the Teamsters," said Steve Turner, National
Secretary for Transport of the Transport and General Workers Union of Great
Britain. "None of us can stand alone in our countries and take on the
global corporations who are changing the face of transport across the
world. We will stand together for workers and for our collective future."
"We are involved in struggles with multi-national companies on a daily
basis. We have received help from and given help to the Teamsters and other
international unions," said Brenden Hayes, Vice President of Ireland's
largest union, Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
(SIPTU). "We recognize that on our own we are easy prey for corporate
vultures. Together we can win for working people. We support your great
union in your struggle."