Previous Teamster

About three years ago I worked in a warehouse in which workers were unionized under the Teamsters, and I have a multi-part question: 1. At this warehouse it seemed that the union did little to benefit the workers. We were constantly belittled and berated by management and were threatened with loss of our jobs at least once a week. I never met or heard of any union representative, there was no one who really represented us. We were given no options to protect ourselves from mistreatment. Is this common practice in a Teamster environment? 2. I was told that I would have to continue to pay my Teamster union dues after quitting this job, UNLESS I went to the Union offices and informed the union that I was no longer working for a Teamster Union employer. Is this true? If so, when I sign a union card will I be obligated to pay those "back" dues? Will I be harassed by the union to pay? 3. At a FedEx terminal (not my own) I met two FedEx employees who had previously worked for UPS. They both stated that the UPS union contract allowed for working conditions which allowed for forced Overtime and excessive workloads. People who didn't enjoy exhausting workloads were told to take a look at their Union contract which allowed for such practices. I can not imagine an employee negotiated contract creating such stressful working conditions, and what would you say to this? Thank You.

Teamsters Response:

1.I am sorry to hear of your experience. I would need some more details before answering  i.e. how many people were at this wharehouse, how many shop stewards did you have, were grievances filed over the mistreatment. And no this is not common as I myself was a shop steward then chief steward at Purolator before working for the Teamsters. I can tell you the democratic process of electing your shop stewards and local and national officers produces great representation as these people are accountable to you and if they don't meet your expectations you can vote for someone else or you can run for election.

2. When you cease becomming a Teamster all you need to do is phone the local you belong to for a withdrawl card so the union knows that you are not working in the craft. The purpose of the withdrawl card is two fold...it gives you access to thousands of companies that have closed shop agreements all over North America should you become unemployed and it guarantees that you won't pay an initiation fee if you went to work for another company that already is unionized with the Teamsters. If you owe back-dues all you need to do is write the executive board explaining your situation and ask for forgiveness....and no you won't be harassed.

3. The UPS collective agreement has a process for dealing with excessive overtime up to and including the right to file a grievance (Section 11.5(a) of the contract which you can view on this website). It's up to the UPS worker to enforce his/her rights with the help of a shop steward. The Purolator contract allows a worker to work 1/2 hrs over his/her hour band. If you have an 8 hrs route the company can work you 8.5 hrs unless you want the overtime.