No name has been more closely associated with the Teamsters Union than Hoffa. But the 80-year-old son of the infamous “Jimmy” Hoffa declined to run for re-election after losing support among U.S. members in 2016, although he narrowly won with Canadian voters. James Hoffa may have opted out on paper, but Teamster Union reformers effectively made his situation untenable.
Sean O’Brien, widely considered a reformer and rival of the Hoffa brand, won in a 115,573 to 57,983 landslide over Steve Vairma. The Teamsters General President-elect reportedly served as the head of Local 25 since 2005. His 5-year term begins in March 2022 as James Hoffa steps aside. But what is particularly telling of the shift in union power is that Hoffa endorsed Vairma as his successor. The rank-and-file overwhelmingly rejected a path that kept members on the same trajectory.
The Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million truckers, warehouse workers, and others across the U.S. and Canada. The largest union shop is currently UPS, with thousands of men and women employed by the outfit. In 2018, Hoffa fell short of expectations when negotiating a 5-year labor deal for UPS workers. Upwards of 54 percent of members refused to ratify the agreement. Hoffa snubbed the majority by employing a union rule that requires two-thirds of eligible Teamsters to participate in the UPS vote.
“We’re going to make UPS an example. Striking is a last resort, but if a company is not negotiating in good faith, we’re going to get what our members deserve,” O’Brien reportedly said. “Our members are thirsty for change in leadership, and they’re disappointed in the last contract. Everyone wants to get what was coming to them.”
That level of disfavor may have led to Hoffa’s decision to forgo another campaign. O’Brien plans to take proactive measures to grow membership by unionizing Amazon.
“Amazon is going to be our most formidable opponent, not just in the parcel delivery business, but in every portion of transportation, planes, trains, and automobiles,” O’Brien reportedly said. “Luckily we’ve got a secretary of labor who comes out of Boston who we know very well, who I’ve been in dialogue with.”
A recent Gallup poll indicates that labor unions are currently enjoying their highest approval levels since the late 1960s. Public support bodes well for the incoming Teamsters boss.
“Between 1936 and 1967, approval averaged 68 percent and included record-high 75 percent approval ratings in 1953 and 1957. Then, from 1972 through 2016, support eased, with few readings over 60 percent,” according to the Gallup poll findings. “This included the 48 percent all-time low recorded in 2009, the only time approval was below the majority level. Since 2016, approval has steadily increased and is now 20 percentage points above the historical low.”
Bringing a reformer headwind backed by positive public sentiment, O’Brien may be positioned to secure the first union shop at Amazon. To date, no union in America has succeeded.
If ever in America there was a Time for Unions is Now…!!! Corporate America and the Government have Over Ruled, Over Regulations, and Under Paid Driver’s and Warehouse Worker’s… The Corporate America has enjoyed Upper Management having High Salaries and Bonuses along with Share Holders… The Hard Working People barely get Yearly Raises or Cost of Living and no consequences on keeping a good or able to mediate situations…
Employees need Representation and Negotiation for Better Pay, Better Benefits, Better Retirement Directions, and Job Place Negotiation…
They need to get away from the demarats and they would have more support
I have always been amazed there is very little to none organization efforts in the trucking industry. It’s ripe for picking with how poorly the drivers are treated.
The Teamsters Union, warts and all, was the best thing to happen to me throughout my decades of Union membership and truck driving.
I had rights and a voice, got paid very well for all my time(no freebies) with all the trimmings, and now enjoy a decent pension and retiree medical benefits-on top of social security. I am very well-set thanks to James R. Hoffa’s earlier leadership and the National Master Freight Agreement.
We had to fight at times to achieve what we wanted, and I am afraid that today’s drivers are not willing to sacrifice and fight, preferring to just complain about their lot in life, some egged on by an employer-funded dissident group set up to harm Teamster members.
The best thing to happen to our union in 20 years is there’s no Jimmy Jr. to give away everything. That UPS contract flat out sucks. Hoffa should be ashamed of himself and his record of givebacks, 22.4 drivers, shitty contract language that favors employers. Hell now that he’s gone we may be able to organize trucking again.
Historically most Drivers I spokd with regarding Unión Jobs and benefits along my 25 years driving life….the vas majority speaks baile about Unión Jobs but most remarkable is the fact of their ignorante in this issue….most pepole belives that Unión are Mafia like Organizations….and their members are lady overpaid people ….WTF !!! Unión members gets the best wages the best benefits best overall and they just brainwashed by the “Conservative” media satanizing Unions ….Why?…becouse they will paid peanuts to the ignorant non Unión drivers and will get Richard and even richer not providing drivers with better wages better benefits less BS….Congratulations to Unión Drivers ….You have the guts to stand ….eventually everyone gets what they deserve….non Unión drivers get just sthy pay…period
It doesn’t make any since to hash ive the past of could of should of dines. I was a Teamster before I was born. As my dad held local president office many times well still driving local. As a life long member even after all local freight companies closed and I started my own trucking company. That’s right, at one time independent owner operator held cards or you didn’t walk on a warehouse dock or auto plants… Why are we not marketing today a very large group of brothers with membership. Offer them the things that cost them big money like Teamsters health insurance and retirement. Yes it would be the O/O paying as 1 maybe small fleet of 5,10 trucks. Offer it at less cost then it privately cost them now. Which I most cases the O/O and any drivers working for them end without insurance or retirement. A national freight agreement for owner operators and small fleet drivers. They have a bigger than life fight with lying cheating brokers. That steal 2/3 of all monies paid by shippers. The teamsters biggest mistake over the years when they agreed to pulling more than one trailers. Which today, that’s right are haul by O/O or small fleet drivers. Did the Teamsters see that UPS just bought the non union company Roadie that handles small packages. Why because of a larger problem. Drivers themselves. Why has the teachers union not set up a national training platform for new drivers requires experience and training by that could end up a federal standard for CLD. Stop the JB Hunts of the industry getting new drivers for let pay and after charging big monies by sister driving school which they all have today. It ends up costing everyone the the trucking business more. Write me if you want more info.