Organizing is the lifeblood of all unions. And as the labor movement matured in the 20th Century, unions survived or failed based on their ability to achieve critical density in their respective industries. Over the last century, the Teamsters Union has proven itself extremely adaptable. Although the Teamsters began as an organization of team drivers, it has changed and expanded over time to address the needs of its members and workers. In the process, the union has attracted new members from industries far outside its original ranks.

Yet despite the unprecedented pace of change that characterized the 20th Century, Teamsters of today have the same aspirations as Teamsters of old: A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work; job security; a safe workplace; good healthcare; a secure retirement; and time to spend with family and friends. Organizing has always been the best tool for improving the lives of workers, giving them a strong voice in the workplace and a powerful position at the negotiating table. There is strength in numbers, a strength that provides the resources and manpower to win the tough fights and gain strong contracts.

Leading The Way

The Union has been guided by energetic, imaginative leaders who have had a solid vision of the future and the knowledge to make sure the members skills kept pace with advances in every field of labor. Long time Teamsters General President Dan Tobin (1907-1952) was one of the first leaders in labor to recognize the importance of organizing. He also was the first to recognize the significance of the “motor truck” and began organizing workers in this new field as early as 1910. By World War I, the Teamsters, having organized most motor truck drivers and related workers, became known as experts in the motor vehicle field. Their skills and services were in great demand during the war.

Fighting For Change

In 1934, Minneapolis became the center of a dramatic clash between labor and management forces. Conditions for the working class in the city and surrounding areas were deplorable, with no signs of improvement in sight. The Teamsters had begun to organize truck drivers and other transport, delivery and warehouse type workers in 1932. By 1934, it had become a major campaign, including efforts to organize long distance “over the road” drivers. When the city officials and businessmen refused to recognize the union or listen to the concerns of workers, a general strike was called. The strike grew to include more than 10,000 Teamster-affiliated workers, plus another 35,000 area tradesmen who walked off their jobs in sympathy with the Teamsters. It lasted nearly eight months and was marked by terrible violence against the workers, including the deaths of several Teamsters.

The ramifications of the 1934 Strike went well beyond the Minneapolis city limits. The strike was the catalyst for labor rights legislation that is still in effect today, including the formation of the National Labor Relations Board and the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1935.

Following World War II, the union made sure that Teamster veterans kept their seniority when they returned to work. By 1949, membership topped one million thanks to organizing in booming post-war industries, including the automotive trades, food processing and dairy industries. By 1957, the Teamsters had become the largest union in the world by leading the labor movement in organizing wins. At the same time, the Teamsters developed a legislative and political action component that fought anti-union legislation.

Setting The Standard

In 1964, the National Master Freight Agreement—the first-ever national agreement in trucking—was the crowning achievement of legendary General President James R. Hoffa. Hoffa strategically worked to establish concurrent expiration dates on all freight agreements so the nationwide unit of drivers could leverage their collective strength to achieve this historic agreement. It covered 400,000 members employed by some 16,000 trucking companies and spawned similar bargaining in other Teamsters trades and crafts. Drivers who had once been at the bottom of the economic ladder saw their strength and power soar as a united group. This agreement, along with other important organizing fights in the 1960s, was essential in raising standards for all workers, union and non-union alike

The real test of a union’s worth has always been found in the value of the contracts it negotiates. The Teamsters is legendary for its ability to win strong contracts, and it continues to win the best agreements in the labor movement regardless of prevailing economic conditions. This is due in large part to their ongoing commitment to organizing and the determination to remain on a level playing field with businesses and government officials.

During an historic Special Convention in 2002, delegates approved a revamped dues structure that earmarked millions of dollars every year to an Organizing Fund. And in 2003, the union’s first-ever conference devoted solely to recruiting new members ratified the program of its newly reconstituted Organizing Department to strategically organize in Teamsters core industries, target member-rich industries and increase the union’s organizing capacity.

Today’s Teamsters Union is a house united, focused on pursuing a better future for North America’s working families. And as the global economy delivers ever-greater power to an increasingly concentrated group of multinational corporations, Teamsters are reaching out to brothers and sisters in every nation to build solidarity and counter common adversaries. By committing massive resources to new, innovative organizing initiatives, the Teamsters Union is leading the North American labor movement in its drive to organize the unorganized and make the 21st Century the Workers Century.