January 8, 2007

(Washington, DC) - The Teamsters announced today the union’s legislative agenda for the 110th Congress, targeting key issues for working families, including the Employee Free Choice Act, a minimum wage hike, fair trade and raising economic and work standards on a variety of fronts.

“The mid-term elections demonstrated that Americans demand change in this country,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “The Democratic majorities in the House and Senate have an extraordinary opportunity to improve the lives of working families. The Teamsters will work tirelessly to ensure that workers are the focus of the new Congress. Access to good paying jobs, affordable health care and a secure retirement should be a right, not a privilege, for all Americans.”

The Teamsters also will continue to lead the fight against free-trade agreements modeled after the job-killing NAFTA and CAFTA agreements that do not contain labor or environmental protections. The union also is mobilizing to raise the minimum wage, to stop unsafe cross-border trucking and to pass important legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act.

“The Employee Free Choice Act strengthens protections for workers to choose to form a union,” said Governmental Affairs Director Mike Mathis. “The National Labor Relations Board has failed workers and rewarded companies that violate the law. Passage of this act will ensure that all Americans will have their basic right to organize protected.”

Additional issues on the Teamsters’ agenda include beefing up rail and port safety and security and making improvements to background check procedures to protect workers’ rights and privacy.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.

Related Links:

Teamsters' 2007 Legislative Priorities for the 110th Congress

Listen in on 2007 Legislative Priorities Press Briefing (MP3)

Hoffa: Time for Congress to Deliver for Workers