Teamsters: A
Democratic Union
By: Cheryl
Johnson, International Vice President for the Central Region and Human
Rights Director, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
It’s important to practice what you preach. As one
of the largest free and independent trade unions in the world, the
Teamsters advocate for the rights of working men and women each and
every day. We stand up to corporate employers and make sure that our
members have contracts providing for fair wages, benefits, and proper
treatment on the job. If we are going to demand fair and equal treatment
of our members in the workplace, and if we are going to demand that
these members have a voice, we must also make sure that they have a
voice within their union. As a member of the International Brotherhood
of Teamsters General Executive Board, I am honored to be able to say
that from shop stewards in
“One
Member, One Vote”
We have institutionalized democracy. It’s called “One Member, One Vote.” The “One Member, One Vote” amendment was passed in 2001 as part of an overall package of democracy reforms. These reforms were made to ensure that the Teamsters Union would continue to remain a truly democratic union and would serve as a model to other labor unions. Through this constitutional amendment, we have ensured that just as every worker deserves a say in the workplace, every member deserves a say in the operations of his or her union.
At every step of the way, the Teamsters Union has proven itself democratic. If you, as a United Airlines mechanic, are interested in voting in an election for union representation, you make the decision to sign an authorization card. YOU decide whether you want to join a union by voting. Once you’ve decided as a group to join the Teamsters, YOU decide what you want in your contract. If, for instance, strong scope language, better benefits and a pension are your priorities, that is what is negotiated for. It is up to YOU. You vote on the contract once negotiated. You vote on your shop steward. You vote for your General President, which does not happen in every union, but it does in the Teamsters Union. You vote on the officers of your local. And just as an officer can be elected, he or she can also be recalled. It is your right as a Teamster to have an open and transparent union, and that is what you will have if you decide to join the Teamsters.
I cannot stress enough that this will be YOUR union and that is what makes the Teamsters the strong union that it is. We have 1.4 million members and all of them have the ability to participate and to lead the union in the direction that is best for them collectively.
In the coming weeks you will have the opportunity to democratically elect your union representative. Who becomes your representative is your choice. I urge you to exercise your right to vote. And I hope you continue your democratic participation by deciding to join a union that will be accountable to you. A labor union is only as strong as its members who participate actively in their union. I urge you to VOTE TEAMSTERS and become part of an incredible movement to bring change to United Airlines.