Who We Are

Teamsters Union Founded: 1903
Total Number of Teamsters: 1.4 million

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.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with 1.4 million members, is one of the largest labor unions in the world. It is also the most diverse union in the U.S.
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.