Teamsters Convention Closes With Ambitious Plans For Future Growth

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters closed its 27th International Convention today with unprecedented solidarity and determination to embark on the ambitious goals set this week to expand Teamster power.

"We are moving forward together," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "We have accomplished so much because we are united like never before and we are stronger than ever before. But there's more to do. We are changing to grow and we will not rest until we have won our fight."

More than 7,000 Teamster delegates, retirees and guests gathered in Las Vegas this week under the banner of "Moving Forward Together" to tackle a range of constitutional and policy issues that set the future course of the 1.4 million-member Teamsters Union.

The week's accomplishments were particularly impressive with the major announcement of a card-check agreement at UPS Freight that will provide a massive boost to the Teamsters organizing efforts at the former Overnight Transportation. Also announced was an agreement by UPS to the Teamsters' demand for early negotiations for the 2008 National Master United Parcel Service Agreement. UPS Teamsters sought early negotiations to ensure protection of their retirement and health care benefits.

Convention delegates ratified a number of resolutions to set priorities for the union, including:

* Building a mighty army of Teamster organizers
* Continuing the successful fight to keep the border closed to unsafe
Mexican trucks
* Organizing the DHL delivery system
* Organizing Quebecor World workers
* Fighting to protect Teamsters' retirement security
* Organizing port drivers
* Organizing Cintas Corp. workers
* Fighting for strong contracts that set industry standards
* Organizing school bus workers


Among the distinguished guests addressing the convention were former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, (D-NC); U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, (D-DE); U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, (R-MI); actor Kiefer Sutherland; radio show host and comedian Al Franken; and actor Danny Glover. The convention also featured Teamster members and workers fighting to become Teamsters.