Whether they wear blue shirts or brown shirts, the sisters and brothers of Teamsters Local 696 have their priorities straight when it comes to their hometown community of Salina, Kansas.

Veterans in need of jobs got a boost today with the formation of a partnership between the U.S. Army Reserve and Helmets to Hardhats, a national program the Teamsters Union supports that offers job assistance and training opportunities for union jobs to veterans.

Workers at Prime-Time Shuttle in Los Angeles, California unanimously ratified a three-year agreement for their first Teamster contract on June 26, 2009. The workers voted 22-0 to have Teamsters Local 952 in Orange, California as their representative approximately five years ago.

Virginia Hooper, a Teamsters Local 991 shop steward, was recently recognized for her impeccable safety record on the job. Hooper, a UPS driver who spends most of her day on the road, has been accident-free for 31 years.

The Teamsters sent a strong message about U.S. Foodservice at the annual Southwest Foodservice Expo on June 29, highlighting the company’s hypocrisy of claiming ethics and integrity while lobbying against stronger food safety regulations.

As Teamsters, you already know the importance of a union contract, a grievance procedure, seniority and a number of other things that most American workers must do without. Now you can help nonunion workers who want Teamster representation by joining the Mighty Army of Teamster member organizers who are fighting to rebuild the middle class and raise standards for working families.

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot recently, and a UPS Teamster is being credited with helping in the arrest of the suspect. Mike Charbonneau, a member of Local 344, was about 30 feet from a commotion on the sidewalk. Just as he was driving past, he heard five shots. “I was listening for the ping of bullets off the side of the truck,” he said.

Teamster pride can be found in every facet of society in America. But did you know there are many famous Teamsters? A number of legendary movie stars, rock stars, sports stars and politicians have Teamster backgrounds. Here’s the first in what will be an occasional series on famous Teamsters.

On Friday, June 26, a global day of solidarity will be held, calling for justice for Iranian workers. Four global labor organizations, representing more than 170 million workers, are joining forces to fight for the release of Iranian trade unionists who have been jailed for practicing their democratic rights to form trade unions.

The 2009 Teamsters Women’s Conference is fast approaching. This year's conference, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, will focus on the current condition of our economies as well as strategies for organizing, strengthening labor laws, and building strong union workplaces.