June 1, 2023  | The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien on the Supreme Court’s ruling today in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174, which opens the door for corporations to sue their own workers:

“The political hacks at the Supreme Court have again voted in favor of corporations over working people. These corruptible justices should be ashamed of themselves for throwing out long-standing precedents and legislating from the bench. The ability to strike has been on the books for nearly 100 years, and it’s no coincidence that this ruling is coming at a time when workers across the country are fed up and exercising their rights more and more. Make no mistake — this ruling has everything to do with giving companies more power to hobble workers if any attempt is made to fight back against a growing system of corruption.

“The Supreme Court is not upholding the law, nor is it advancing the American people. Supreme Court justices are ruling on behalf of billionaires alone — the very ones they socialize with at cocktail parties and to who they owe their jobs in the first place. American workers must remember that their right to strike has not been taken away. All workers, union and nonunion alike, will forever have the right to withhold their labor.

“The Teamsters will strike any employer, when necessary, no matter their size or the depth of their pockets. Unions will never be broken by this Court or any other. Today’s shameful ruling is simply one more reminder that the American people cannot rely on their government or their courts to protect them. They cannot rely on their employers. We must rely on each other. We must engage in organized, collective action. We can only rely on the protections inherent in the power of our unions.”

Statement at teamster.org.

NBC News: Supreme Court rules company can pursue strike damage claim

America's workers are fighting back, exercising right to strike

June 5, 2023. Updated 6/16

Members at POTTS & CALLAHAN ratified a three-year contract in April that provides improvements in wages, pension, vacation pay and maintains Health & Welfare.

Also in May, warehouse workers employed at LINDE (formerly Praxair) approved a contract with an increase in wages, improvements in holidays and overtime pay, and maintains Health & Welfare.

Members at REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING CO. ratified a three-year contract that provides wage hikes, increases to the 401(k) and pension, and maintains Health & Welfare. The local was successful in eliminating some of the two-tier contract language.

Members at TERMINAL CORP. approved a one-year contract extension through June 2024 with a ratification bonus.

Warehouse members at CHESAPEAKE BEVERAGE approved a one-year contract extension through March 2024 that provides a significant wage hike that will help to retain current workers and attract new hires. 

IN BARGAINING: Mom's Organic Market/Hampden, Mom's Organic Market/Timonium, Hagerstown Canteen, First Group America

COMING UP: Bimbo Bakeries, Kinder Morgan, Mondelez

June 29, 2023 | Today, Teamsters join communities around the nation to honor the 158th anniversary of the first Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the end of slavery. In recognition of Juneteenth, Teamsters Human Rights & Diversity Commission Director Anthony M. Rosa released the following statement: “As a union that is deeply committed to social justice and equality, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is proud to celebrate Juneteenth. …While June 19, 1865, marked a historic day in our nation’s history, it was only the beginning of a long journey towards true social and economic freedom for Black Americans.” Read the full statement here. Related: The UPS National Negotiating Committee is pushing the company to do the right thing…