The largest single employer of Teamsters members is United
Parcel Service, which employs more than 200,000 Teamsters members.
The best-known Teamsters work in the freight industry.
More than 120,000 Teamsters are covered by multiple employers under the
National Master Freight Agreement.
The Teamsters represent 1.4 million working men and women
in virtually every occupation throughout the United States and Canada.
Teamsters operate computers; protect families as law enforcement officers;
work as technical employees in both the public and private sectors; care for
patients in hospitals and nursing homes, work as public defenders; assist
customers at car rental agencies; work at leading hotels; work in schools as
both principals and custodians; repair highway bridges and collect tolls on
thruways and turnpikes; process, store
and deliver food products; and
transport automobiles, trucks, SUVs and other vehicles.
Two-thirds of Teamsters members work in one of five
divisions: Warehouse, Parcel, Freight, Public Employees and Industrial Trades.
The Public Employees sector is the union's fastest-growing division.
Teamsters members are also spread out geographically. The
largest concentrations of Teamsters are in the regions in the Central and
Eastern states.
Today, it would be hard to identify a Teamster on the streets
because we are everywhere. The union represents everyone from A to Z
- from airline pilots to zookeepers. One out of every ten union
members is a Teamster.
Local
Unions
There are hundreds of Teamsters local unions across North America.
The local unions and their members are the heart and backbone of the
union.
Unlike other labor unions,
the Teamsters Union is structured to promote strong local unions,
and strong local leaders. Since the locals negotiate most Teamsters
contracts and provide most of the services to the members, they keep
most of the dues money. Locals retain their own expert labor
lawyers, certified public accountants, full-time business agents,
organizers, and clerical staff.
The members of each local elect
their own officers, devise their own structure, and vote on their
own bylaws, compatible with the International Constitution and
Bylaws. While enjoying their independence, the locals benefit from
the expertise and assistance of the International Union, and of the
various conferences and councils in the union’s structure.
Joint Councils
Teamsters Joint Councils are set
up in areas with three or more local unions. Joint Councils help
coordinate Teamsters activities in those areas. They also help solve
problems and decide some jurisdictional and judicial matters. Local
67 belongs to Joint Council 55
Trade Divisions and Conferences
Trade
divisions and conferences aid Teamsters leaders
throughout the country who share common interests and problems. They
provide an informational clearinghouse for locals that negotiate in
the same industry or bargain with the same employer.
Local representatives discuss
common problems and concerns at regular trade division and
conference meetings.
International Brotherhood of
Teamsters
At the union’s headquarters in
Washington, D.C., the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
supports local unions with:
- Coordination of national
contract negotiations, political action, and organizing;
- Training and educational
programs for Teamsters officers, Business Agents, stewards and
members;
- Advice and assistance from
experienced organizers, negotiators, researchers, attorneys,
safety and health professionals, auditors, and communications
specialists.
The union’s General President and
General Secretary-Treasurer serve as the executive officers of the
union. The General Executive Board consists of 22 Vice Presidents
geographically located or at-large. Three trustees, who are elected
at Convention, serve as watchdogs over the International’s finances.
Convention delegates, whom are
elected locally, meet once every five years to amend the
Constitution and adopt measures lending direction to the union.
Between Conventions, the General Executive Board, guided by the
Teamster Constitution,
is the final governing body.
Elections of officers for
International union office are typically held once every five years.
