Teamsters 519

We have chosen the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to represent us. Our local Union is the Teamsters 519.

Our Negotiating leaders consist of Teamsters Attorney Sam Morris who has practiced labor law and negotiated contracts for over thirty years. We also have Mrs. Veronica Sawyer who is 37 year Teamster and specializes in Casino Contract Negotiations, which she has done for sixteen years.

WHO ARE THE TEAMSTERS?

The Teamsters are America's largest, most diverse union. In 1903, the Teamsters started as a merger of the two leading team driver associations. These drivers were the backbone of America's robust economic growth, but they needed to organize to wrest their fair share from greedy corporations. Today, the union's task is exactly the same.

The Teamsters are known as the champion of freight drivers and warehouse workers, but have organized workers in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, private sector and public sector.

Our 1,3 million members are public defenders in Minnesota; vegetable workers in California; sanitation workers in New York; brewers in St. Louis; newspaper workers in Seattle; construction workers in Las Vegas; zookeepers in Pennsylvania; health care workers in Rhode Island; bakery workers in Maine; airline pilots, secretaries, and police officers. Name the occupation and chances are we represent those workers somewhere.

There are nearly 1,900 Teamsters affiliates throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Teamsters stand ready to organize workers who want to bargain collectively. Once a contract is negotiated and signed, the union works to enforce it- holding management's feet to the fire and invoking contract grievance procedures if management chooses not to. Wages and benefits under Teamsters contracts are markedly better than those of nonunion employees in similar jobs. Teamsters contracts guarantee decent wages, fair promotion, health coverage, job security, paid time-off, and retirement income.

The Teamsters Union also performs vital tasks in pension management, safety and health standards, community outreach, governmental affairs, and communications. For more than a century, the Teamsters have been a public voice for the rights and aspirations of working men and women, and a key player in securing them.

What To Expect During Teamsters Contract Negotiations

After you vote to form your union, everything will mostly remain the same. During negotiations, you have the opportunity to sit down with the company to discuss improvements YOU want.

Once the contract has been negotiated, YOU and your co-workers will have the opportunity to vote by a secret ballot on the contract.

Having a Strong Teamsters Contract means that YOU will have a say in your future and get a legally binding agreement with improved wages, better benefits, and safe working conditions!

On Union Dues

  • NO INITIATION FEE. You will NOT pay any initiation fee when you become Teamsters. This is because you will be a newly organized unit. Any new hire that starts after you and your co-workers become Teamsters may be assessed an initiation fee based on local union bylaws.

  • DUES ARE 2.5 TIMES OUR BASE HOURLY RATE, PER MONTH. The Teamsters dues rate is your hourly base rate, multiplied by 2.5, assessed monthly. For example, if you make $20 per hour, your monthly dues will be $50. In some cases, local membership may have added an additional assessment. You will be notified if this applies to you.

  • YOUR DUES STAY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. Unlike other unions, the overwhelming majority of Teamsters dues - at least 78 percent - stays with your local union for direct services and support to our members.

  • DUES ARE SET AND APPROVED BY THE MEMBERS. Teamsters dues rates based upon hourly rates of pay are set and approved by the membership. Dues increases are rare and must be voted on by the members.

  • YOU WON'T PAY DUES UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE A TEAMSTERS CONTRACT. Dues are not assessed until after the collective bargaining agreement is implemented. Your union contract must be ratified by a direct vote from you and your coworkers before it can be implemented.

THE TEAMSTER Guarantee

Teamsters representation comes with a strong set of guarantees for workers, such as:

  • A guarantee that there will be no union dues during the organizing and bargaining process.

  • A guarantee that all workers regardless of membership status will be treated with dignity and respect and will benefit from the contact gains.

  • A guarantee that workers from the bargaining unit will be invited to participate in bargaining.

  • A guarantee that the Teamsters we will provide the highest quality negotiators, legal counsel, researchers, and other resources as needed to aid the workers in getting a strong contract.

  • A guarantee that once a tentative agreement is reached, all workers will be given a detailed explanation of the agreement, have an opportunity to ask questions, and only workers will vote to accept or reject the agreement.

Workers have a legal right to form a union and your company is legally required to bargain in good faith with a representative of your choosing. Your employer is trying to keep you from forming a union so they can maintain power over you and your co-workers.