2008
Teamster freight members ratified a new, National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) in February, 2008. Covering 60,000 workers at YRC Worldwide, Yellow Transportation, Roadway and regional units at USF Holland and New Penn Motor Express.
On February 20, 2008, Hoffa became the first major union leader to endorse Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) in his bid for President of the United States. Hoffa campaigned in major states for Obama throughout the primary and general election. He served as a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver and a member of the Michigan Electoral College.
On March 11, 2008 members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employes (BMWED), part of the Teamsters Rail Conference, approved a new contract with Amtrak after eight years of negotiations. Workers, who have been working for sub-par rates for the past several years will receive increases of wages and benefits.
Workers at DHL Express ratified a new national agreement in early May 2008. These were the first national agreements negotiated by the Teamsters Union in more than 30 years. “The vote from DHL Express members is a strong signal of support. We were determined to obtain the best contract that we could for members, and I believe we achieved that,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.
Teamster carhaulers ratified a new three-year national agreement on October 24, 2008. A record level of employer contributions towards health, welfare and pension benefits were won by the union by the agreement covering approximately 8,100 workers.
Gaining a 15 percent wage increase over five years, Teamsters working at Anheuser-Busch facilities in the U.S. voted in a new agreement on November 7, 2008. The contract included the promise that Anheuser-Busch, recently acquired by InBev, would keep all 12 U.S. Breweries open for the life of the contract.
For the first time in nearly 40 years, pressmen at the Los Angeles Times voted in a Teamster contract in December, 2008. The 250 men and women working in the press operations section of the Los Angeles Times voted in their first collective bargaining agreement with the Graphic Communications Conference of the Teamsters.
Read more about this topic: James P. Hoffa, Teamsters Activity