February 8, 2008

(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters Union added 23,000 members last year and is on pace to add even more this year, General President Jim Hoffa said today.

The Teamsters organized more than 4,000 UPS Freight workers in January alone, Hoffa told transportation industry representatives and reporters at the National Press Club. 

“We’re on a very fast pace to sign these people up,” he said. “We’re on a roll right now.” 

The Teamsters represent workers in every part of America, from airline pilots to zookeepers, he said.

Recently, the Teamsters negotiated the biggest industrial contract in the United States with UPS (NYSE: UPS). The contract covers 240,000 workers.

Hoffa pointed out that U.S. labor unions added members in 2007 for the first time in 25 years, despite seven years of the Bush administration.

“They have basically declared war on unions,” Hoffa said. “We’re not going to miss George.”

He declined so say, however, whether the Teamsters would endorse Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for president. “I’m not telling you,” he said.

He did say the Teamsters will only endorse House and Senate candidates who will vote for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which will allow employees to form unions by signing cards that authorize representation.

EFCA passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. “You talk about something that can jump start the American labor movement, that’s it,” Hoffa said.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.