----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Brown" <CharlesB at cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us> To: <pen-l at galaxy.csuchico.edu> Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 8:14 AM Subject: [PEN-L:14910] Teamsters Convention
>
>
> Teamsters Enter New Era With 26th Convention (Jul. 9, 2001)
> By Greg Tarpinian
>
>
> from ECONOMIC NOTES
>
> Putting the debacle of its divided 1996 Convention and scandal-plagued
1996 election behind it, the Teamsters union at its 26th International
Convention, held June 25-29 in Las Vegas, adopted some of the most sweeping
constitutional reforms of any union in the U.S. labor movement.
>
> First and foremost, was the overwhelming approval of a constitutional
amendment enshrining the direct election of delegates to the International
Convention and direct election of International officers. Perhaps of equal
importance was a "Canadian Unity Amendment" creating sovereignty for
Teamsters Canada.
>
> The Convention was marked by the most democratic display of any union
convention in the American labor movement. While General President James P.
Hoffa controlled more than 90% of the delegates, he allowed his opponents to
have the floor at least 50% of the time. While sharp disagreements occurred,
the Convention was overwhelmingly united, as seen in the unanimous passage
of the following resolutions, among others:
>
> 2002 UPS Contract Campaign
> Organizing the Unorganized
> Solidarity and Unity for Strong Contracts
> 2003 Freight Contract Campaign
> Navy Out of Vieques
> Basic Vegetable Strike
> Overnite Campaign
> Anheuser-Busch
> Diamond Walnut Strike
> The Teamsters took a big step in the critical area of restoring the
union's financial viability with passage of a resolution establishing a Blue
Ribbon Finance Commission.
>
> Another historic moment came in the adoption of a unity agreement between
the International Longshoreman's Association (East Coast), the International
Longshoremen's and Warehouse Workers Union (West Coast), and the Teamsters
in a joint effort to organize the nation's ports. For their part, the
Teamsters are focusing on the organization of port drivers. The President's
of the ILWU and ILA addressed the convention.
>
> The Convention also saw the nomination of candidates for International
Office. In the contest for General President, Hoffa received the votes of
92% of the delegates compared to 8% of the delegates for his opponent Tom
Leedham. The two will square off in an election this fall.
>
> ECONOMIC NOTES
>
> NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE LABOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
>
> http://www.LaborResearch.org
>
> July 9, 2001
>
> Labor Strategies
> Teamsters Enter New Era With 26th Convention (Jul. 9, 2001)
> Putting the debacle of its divided 1996 Convention and scandal plagued
> 1996 election behind it, the Teamsters union at its 26th International
> Convention held Jun 25-29 in Las Vegas adopted some of the most sweeping
> constitutional reforms of any union in the U.S. labor movement, according
> to LRA Executive Director Greg Tarpinian.
>
> http://laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?ibtconv.txt
>
> Health Care Trends
> Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits Declining Sharply in the U.S., Study
> Shows (July 3, 2001)
> Barely half of the American workforce is covered by employer-sponsored
> health care plansóand that number is dwindling fast, according to the
> Center for National Policy (CNP). In a recent report, "The Impacts of
> Labor Market Trends on Health Care Coverage," the CNP found that the
> proportion of American workers receiving employer-provided health care
> coverage shrank from 66% to 54% between the years 1979 and 1998.
>
> http://laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?decline.txt
>
> Labor Strategies
> Declaring 'Whatever It Takes,' Health Care Union Fights On for Workers'
> Rights at Lawrence Hospital (July 3, 2001)
> The streets of Bronxville, New York, were once again filled with purple
> and gold on June 30 as thousand of members of 1199 SEIU demonstrated for a
> fair union election at Lawrence Hospital.
>
> http://laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?1199lawrence.txt
>
> Labor Strategies
> Labor Stands United Against Union Busting at Verizon (Jun. 27, 2001)
> Thousands of workers poured into midtown Manhattan on June 20 to inform
> Verizon telecommunications that its anti-union antics will not be
> tolerated. The rallyówhich drew broad support from unions around the New
> York areaówas organized by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in
> response to Verizon's reneging on a neutrality agreement it signed last
> summer.
>
>
> http://laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?verizon_rally.txt
>
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> *********************************************
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