It seems the company does whatever it wants. Maybe there's not much money in ltl anymore so union looks out for itself. I had alot of years with one weeks vacation, 8 to 9 . Company only change it because nobody wanted to work here. B A comes around saying vote yes. That guy might work 8 easy hours. I pay the Teamsters and they seem to worry more for the company.
Bro. Frankie2010,.........The problem is endemic. For one thing, most Union members don't know how much power the membership has. It's just lack of information. If you'd say "Robert's Rules of Order",....or "Local Bylaws" to most guys,....they'd draw a blank.
But,...those are the very "tools" that many Union Officers use to quiet dissension in the ranks. Most Union Officers are very dedicated, Idealistic people...........but , the unscrupulous and lazy would prefer to hear from the rank-and-file as little as possible.
Does your Local meetings achieve a "quorum" of the members according to the Bylaws? If not,...then the Officers rule the Union by Executive Degree,.....with NO Member Input. Look up "quorum"......Get a copy of the Bylaws. They HAVE to give you one. By Law (NLRB)......and then,....get your Fellow Union Brothers to attend a meeting,......and TAKE BACK the Power.......
If you want to change the Union to help the Members,......YOU have to arm yourself with the tools. If your Local has drifted along ignoring the members for...years,...Then it's going to take.....years to get it back.
No time like the Present to start,.........
DON'T Give Up,......Union Membership stems from the First Amendment,.....far more important than the Second Amendment,...which is merely the "enforcement" provision,.....in case someone infringes on your First Amendment Rights.
Believe me,....if it weren't for the First Amendment,....Corporations would've lobbied Congress to make Unions illegal,...decades ago,........(....not like they haven't tried....).....
If you Believe in this Country,...and the Citizen's Right to be heard,......then you've got to work to Protect that Right......from people who find it too........"annoying" to listen to the rank-and- file's Grievances......
All Justice stems from the grass roots,.....not from the people at the top. If you feel you're not getting a fair shake,.......you've got to WORK to get it. Takes Time, and Education,......and other Members,......
......and the Powers That Be,....loving the Status Quo,......are counting on guys going: "Ahh,...What's the Use? Too Much Work......."
Like any Democracy,......when you give up,...and merely complain about how " they're all Crooked".......then they Win,....Crooked or not.......
Work to Change the Contract, Brother.........Won't be done overnight,.........but,...you'll be Fighting the Good Fight.....