Spring 2004
Volume 111 - No. 1
Spring 2004
Volume 111 - No. 1
BLET Focus
Who are the Teamsters?
The IBT represents 1.4 million members in the following Trade Divisions and Conferences
Airline Division (33,000 members)
The Teamsters is the only union that represents every craft of workers in the airline industry. The law covering airline employees requires that they be organized on a system-wide basis for the purpose of collective bargaining. Airline employees are covered by the Railway Labor Act rather than the National Labor Relations Act.
Carhaul Division (13,000 members)
The Carhaul Division consists of more than 80 local unions representing nearly 13,000 Carhaul members. The division negotiates and administers the National Automobile Transporters Agreement and its supplements. The division provides assistance to local unions with grievances, negotiations, and arbitrations.
Bakery and Laundry Conference (50,000 members)
The Bakery and Laundry Conference includes approximately 240 Teamsters local unions throughout the United States and Canada representing bakery sales drivers, transports, biscuit and laundry drivers. It is a voluntary organization that, in addition to its elected officers, has a policy committee of approximately forty members from both the United States and Canada.
Brewery and Soft Drink Conference (62,000 members)
The Brewery and Soft Drink Conference is the Teamsters beverage trade division. The conference acts on common problems of all Teamsters locals with members employed in the brewing and soft drink industries as well as in other related industries.
Building Material & Construction Trade Division (103,000 members)
The Building Material and Construction Division represents approximately 325 local unions with construction and/or building materials within their craft jurisdiction. The division represents the International Union at the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department, Metal Trades Department, participates on their General Presidents' Committee on contract Maintenance, the Heavy and Highway Construction Committee, and under the National Maintenance Agreement Policy Committee.
Dairy Conference (37,000 members)
The Dairy conference assists Teamsters locals in representing dairy and food processing employees. Many of these workers are employed by companies operating nationwide, although labor agreements are negotiated on an individual basis with local unions.
Freight Division (130,000 members)
The Freight Division represents the interests of truck drivers, dockworkers, mechanics, and office personnel. These members are affiliated with approximately 260 local unions. The vast majority of freight members work under the terms of the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA).
Industrial Trades Division (138,000 members)
The Industrial Trades division is comprised of approximately 400 affiliated local unions covering more than 152,000 members in the industrial and automotive trades. These members work in manufacturing companies such as chemical, agriculture, paper, electronic, tool and die, tires, transmission companies, etc... It also covers parking garages and parking lots, including Central Parking, the largest parking operator in the world. IBT represents 20,000 members in the parking industry alone. Recently, we formed the National Parking Council to give higher visibility to this sector of the division. Car rental companies such as Hertz, Avis and National also employ a large number of members.
Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division (3,800 members)
The Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division represents workers in the motion picture industry including firms that produce feature films, television programs, commercials, and live theatrical productions. In recent years, the industry has expanded outside the major film centers so the theatrical Teamsters can be found working in every state and Canadian province. The division promotes greater film production and, wherever the location, the usage of Teamsters to ensure that production transportation needs are met at the high standard of professionalism the division has set for the industry.
Newspaper, Magazine & Electronic Media Worker (14,000 members)
The Newspaper Drivers Division serves the special needs of those working within the newspaper and magazine industry.
Parcel and Small Package Division (200,000 members)
The Parcel and Small Package Trade Division oversees the contract administration for both the National Master Agreement and the Area Regional Agreements for United Parcel Service.
Port Division (1,200 members)
The Port Division was established to monitor the economic impact of port activities on Teamsters members. With a tremendous presence on the waterfronts, Teamsters members work in warehouses and distribution centers and on the trucks.
Public Services Trade Division (185,000 members)
The Public Services Division is comprised of at least 225 affiliated local unions representing workers employed by government entities throughout the U.S. and Canada. These workers are covered by regulations and laws that vary by state, province, and local authorities of government.
Rail Conference (50,000 members)
The Rail Conference coordinates activities on behalf of members within the rail industry in the United States, including all members of the former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), and any rail union with independent jurisdiction that may merge with the IBT in the future.
On January 1, 2004, the members of the BLE became Teamsters after 81 percent of BLE members voted in favor of a merger. The BLE then became known as the BLET (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen) and is the first craft division within the Rail Conference. The BLET represents all locomotive engineers, trainmen and related operating personnel. The BLE affiliates in Canada are a part of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
Tankhaul Division (11,000 members)
The activities and affairs of the newly established Tankhaul Division are coordinated daily with regional representatives. The National Tankhaul Division, with the assistance of four regional representatives, assists local unions and members with contract negotiations, grievance processing, and resolution of disputes which may arise between the local unions and employers.
Trade Show & Convention Centers Division (22,000 members)
The Trade Show and Convention Centers Division represents Teamsters members who install trade shows and conventions, work in hotels and casinos, and operate buses, limos and moving vans throughout the United States.
Warehouse Division (230,000 members)
The Teamsters Warehouse Division provides a variety of support services to local unions representing members employed in warehousing, distribution and related industries, and job classifications such as drivers, lift truck operators, equipment operators and clerical.
© 2004 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen