The Teamsters Union strongly condemns Governor Abigail Spanberger for vetoing legislation that would have established and protected collective bargaining rights for public sector workers across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The legislation would have given state and local employees across Virginia the ability to collectively negotiate better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Gov. Spanberger’s veto is an upsetting setback for thousands of workers at a time when Virginia families are living with persistent inflation and rising costs for food, housing, and other basic necessities.

“Working people deserve representatives who will stand with them as they fight for a better future,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The Teamsters will work with any Democrat, Republican, or Independent who is serious about protecting workers’ rights and defending collective bargaining. Unfortunately, Gov. Spanberger’s depressing actions in Virginia are an urgent reminder that unions and engaged citizens who care about labor rights must collectively demand more of our elected officials. We must never assume that lawmakers affiliated with any one political party are committed to standing with workers. We must build bipartisan coalitions that actually want to get something done for working Americans and have the backbone to do it.”

Throughout the legislative process, members of the Virginia General Assembly worked closely with the Teamsters and other unions to move this bill forward and defend the rights of public employees. The Teamsters thank the Virginia lawmakers who stood with workers, supported this important legislation, and recognized that collective bargaining is not a political bargaining chip, but a fundamental right that helps working families build stronger lives.

The Teamsters will continue the fight to secure collective bargaining rights for every public sector worker across Virginia.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien met with the chairs of the Democratic Labor Caucus on Wednesday, sitting down with Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ, 1st District), Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 6th District), and Steven Horsford (D-NV, 4th District) to discuss the Faster Labor Contracts Act.

“The Teamsters appreciate that the Faster Labor Contracts Act is a Labor Caucus priority. In a Congress with a slim majority, moving labor priorities takes bipartisan collaboration,” O’Brien said. “The Teamsters are focused on getting results — not playing politics. That means building relationships with pro-labor elected officials of any party. That’s how we’re going to get this consequential bill over the finish line.”

Last week, O’Brien, Rep. Norcross, and rank-and-file Teamsters from Amazon and Corewell Health East urged House members to sign onto a discharge petition — a key step to force a vote on the Faster Labor Contracts Act and finally deliver contracts for workers who’ve waited long enough.

Teamsters from across the State of Illinois flooded the halls of the Illinois State Capitol today to send a strong message to legislators against Driverless Vehicles on our roads.  Google owned Waymo and other out of state Billionaires are attempting to push through a bill that would allow unsafe, untested, driverless technology in our State.   

Teamsters Joint Council 25 held a press conference alongside the Illinois AFL-CIO, Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, IAM, ATU, and other organizations to announce the formation of a broad coalition of Labor Unions and community organizations to oppose this dangerous technology in Illinois.

“Google, Amazon, Tesla, and other Big Tech companies are trying to force driverless cars and trucks into our communities.” said Joint Council 25 President Tom Stiede.  “On multiple occasions in other cities, its robotaxis have blocked first responders from reaching the victims of mass shootings, shut down traffic, and collided with pets and children.  This has happened in cities where it almost never snows. Can you imagine how much worse these problems will be in the middle of a Chicago winter?  The only reason these Billionaires are pushing this is so they can make trillions of dollars by eliminating middle-class union jobs.   That’s why elected officials here in Springfield need to kill the AV Pilot Project Act.  Illinois is not for sale. Not to robots or anyone else.”

Under America’s broken system, it takes 458 days on average to get a first union contract. The Faster Labor Contracts Act would expedite and ensure fair first agreements for American workers.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act is bipartisan, bicameral, and has broad support with the American public.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune need to prioritize this simple yet critical legislation.

Today, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and Teamsters members from Corewell Health East and Breakthru Beverage joined Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ,1st District), Pete Stauber (R-MN, 8th District), and union allies for the introduction of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. 

This legislation would require employers to collectively bargain with newly organized workers within 10 days of voting to form their union. 

“When passed, the Faster Labor Contracts Act will put working families in this country back at the center of the American economy, and it has the potential to transform entire industries for the better,” O’Brien said. “This legislation is one of the most consequential bills for organized labor in generations. The Teamsters Union is calling on Congress to take this bipartisan bill seriously and pass it.” 

In the fall of 2024, 10,000 nurses at Corewell Health East in Michigan and 160 Breakthru Beverage drivers in Florida organized with the Teamsters Union and are currently working to secure their first collective bargaining agreements. Teamsters joined lawmakers to share their experience fighting for a first contract and made the case for passage of the bill. 

“The Faster Labor Contracts Act would make it so companies can’t drag their feet during contract negotiations, like Breakthru Beverage has been doing,” said Yuniel Sancillena, a member of Teamsters Local 79 and a 10-year driver at Breakthru Beverage. “This legislation would force management to come back to the table and hammer out a deal or face stiff penalties.” 

The bill was originally introduced in the Senate earlier this year by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and has continued to gain strong bipartisan, bicameral support. 

“The fact that the Faster Labor Contracts Act has bipartisan support is the icing on the cake, and it drives home the point that the future of the working class in this country should never be a partisan issue,” said Jason Fratangelo, a nurse at Corewell Health East and member of Teamsters Local 2024. “This legislation will discourage employers from dragging their feet at the negotiating table, which is exactly what Corewell Health East is trying to do right now with 10,000 Teamsters nurses.”

Today, nearly 200 Teamsters gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual Political Coordinators Meeting. Teamsters Federal Legislative Director Sunshine McBride welcomed attendees and gave a recap of our recent legislative successes.

During the day-long session, Teamsters heard from Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division Gail Slater, American Compass Policy Advisor Daniel Kishi, and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Throughout the day, Teamsters began to prepare to lobby on key legislative priorities later in the week. A new initiative, the Teamsters Candidate Recruitment Project, was also announced, which seeks to encourage Teamsters to run for political office and provides assistance for members interested in doing so.

Teamsters California and the Amazon Teamsters Division applaud the California Senate for passing Assembly Bill 288 (AB 288), which would enhance California's ability to protect workers' rights to organize in the face of increasing attempts by employers to rip away worker protections under the National Labor Relations Act.

The push for AB288 comes amid an attempt by billionaires like Jeff Bezos to undermine federal law by having the NLRB declared unconstitutional.

“Amazon respects neither its employees nor federal law and that’s all the proof we need that it’s more urgent than ever to pass AB 288,” said Vanessa Valdez, an Amazon Teamster at DAX5 in the City of Industry, Calif. “The only way this greedy company will negotiate a fair contract with workers like me is if it’s forced to.”

The Teamsters call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign this important legislation that protects workers and holds companies like Amazon accountable.

Hundreds of Teamsters joined General President Sean M. O’Brien, General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, and Organizing Director Chris Rosell in marching to Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office in Chicago to demand that she honor her promise to let staff organize with the Teamsters Union.

Then-candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, Burke offered her support for more than 750 assistant state’s attorneys’ right to collectively bargain and form a union. Since becoming elected in 2024, Burke has changed her tune and is fighting back against her staff’s desire to organize.

After the rally concluded, attendees returned to the Teamsters Organizing Boot Camp Conference to participate in workshops on various tactics and tools for growing union density.