Teamsters Local 986

What's New at I.B.T. 986

About Us

Updated On: Jul 26, 2010 (10:12:00)

Teamsters Local 986 was chartered in 1948 and is one of the five largest local unions of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Our area jurisdiction covers over 14,000 members throughout the western United States and Guam. Our membership is comprised of many different industries including airlines, construction, rock and sand, warehouseman, drivers and clerical employees.
Our diverse membership is provided with a staff of over forty employees with vast experience in negotiating contracts, arbitration and mediation for processing disputes, and daily representation of our members in the protection of their rights. Teamsters Local 986 is also a part of Teamsters Joint Council 42 representing over 200,000 members.

Financial Change

Updated On: Jul 26, 2010 (10:17:00)

Dear Members of Teamsters Local 986,

When you and I set out on this journey three years ago, we knew that ours would be a lengthy struggle to build a new foundation for this country -- one that would require squaring off against the special interests who had spent decades stacking the deck in their favor.

Today, it is clear that you have shifted the odds.

This morning, I signed into law a bill that represents the most sweeping reforms of Wall Street since the Great Depression, and the toughest consumer financial protections this nation has ever seen. I know that I am able to do so only because the tens of thousands of volunteers who make up the backbone of this movement overcame the most potent attack ads and the most powerful lobbying the special interests could put forward.

Our special-interest opponents and their Republican allies have now set their sights on the elections in November as their best chance to overturn the historic progress we've made together.

We count entirely on members like you to fight back -- no special interests, no corporate PACs. To keep making change and to defend the change we have already won, we need you to stay involved in this fight so we have the resources necessary going into the election.

Because of Wall Street reform, we will ensure that Americans applying for a credit card, a mortgage, or a student loan will never again be asked to sign their name under pages of confusing fine print. We will crack down on abusive lending practices and make sure that lenders don't cheat the system -- and create a new watchdog to enforce these consumer protections.

And we will put an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts, giving us the ability to wind down any large financial institution if it should ever fail.

The passage of Wall Street reform is at the forefront of the change we seek, and it will provide a foundation for a stronger and safer economy.

It is a foundation built upon the progress of the Recovery Act, which has turned 22 months of job losses into six consecutive months of private-sector job growth. And it is a foundation reinforced by the historic health reform we passed this spring, which is already giving new benefits to more than 100 million Americans, ushering another 1 million Americans into coverage by next year.

But today's victory is not where our fight ends.

Together, we will move forward in the months ahead on the tough fights we have yet to finish -- even if cynics say we should wait until after the fall elections. This movement has never catered to the conventional wisdom of Washington. And we have fought to ensure that our progress is never held hostage by our politics.

You and I did not build this movement to win one election. We did not come together to pass one single piece of legislation. We are fighting for nothing less than a new foundation for our country -- and that work is not complete. As we face the challenges ahead, I am relying on you to stand with me.

Thank you for helping us get here,

President Barack Obama

KAG West Drivers

Updated On: Jul 26, 2010 (10:13:00)

Did you know??

There is a new KAG West page on the International's website....

Click to visit the page

Delta Dental - Make the Call

Updated On: Jul 26, 2010 (10:15:00)

Don't Patronize Delta Dental !

In the next few months, Delta Dental will close their DeltaCare facility in Cerritos, CA and move this work to Georgia and Mexico City. This unfortunate decision will result in the termination of over 100 Teamster members from Local 986. These members who are mostly women are responsible for providing customer service, processing claims, checking eligibility and printing & distribution of materials and benefit information for over 1.2 million people that have coverage with DeltaCare insurance across the nation.

The Teamsters and other labor unions are joining together to eliminate Delta Dental from all union trust funds. We have informed Delta Dental that we are concerned with the company's decision to terminate experienced personnel and replace with new employees. Their decision to close the Cerritos facility indicates that they don't care about customer service or providing good union jobs for their employees.

A Message From Chris Griswold

Updated On: Feb 25, 2010 (11:35:00)

This has been a difficult year for President Obama as the Republicans continue to launch attacks to prevent us from achieving any reform on health care and job creation. Keep in mind that this year is an election year and the Republicans will say or do anything to win back the Senate and the House of Representatives. We must remain strong and become more politically active if we expect to achieve the “change” that we voted for in the last presidential election.

Let’s make sure that everyone is registered to vote at your workplace, neighborhood and your household. Labor will continue to be attacked by large corporations until we obtain reform on workers rights to join a union. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a major step to leveling the playing field and gives workers a chance to have the protection of labor union. Research shows that union workers receive better pay and benefits then workers that do not belong to a union.

The economy is showing some signs of improvement but we have a long way to go. In the past twelve months, California has lost 579,400 jobs and the state’s unemployment rate was 12.4 percent. When companies shut their doors on their employees, it affects not only the workers but their entire families. Union members must stay together to fight corporate greed as companies like Delta Dental will always place their executives and stockholders ahead of their employees. The Teamsters Union and Local 986 will continue to remain vigilant in fighting to protect jobs for our members throughout the nation.

Congratulations to newly-elected Joint Council 42 President Randy Cammack and the entire JC 42 Executive Board on a job well done and look forward to many years of service for our members.

Chris Griswold