About TeamsterPower 

Over the past few years Teamsters have become increasingly active on blog sites and in places such as YouTube, MySpace and elsewhere. Teamster Power, named for the diary started on DailyKos more than a year ago, will become the hub for those postings. This will make it easier for members to keep up with all we are saying and doing online, and to provide feedback to what's being posted around the web.

Our mission is simple: To promote the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and its 1.4 million members. We will be writing about national campaigns, our victories, our struggles and ways you - our brothers and sisters - can help. And we need your help. We need you to help us create content, report stories, share videos, photos, and to add your voice to the discussion. Because this blog is for you. This is our meeting place to strengthen our unity and our solidarity.

Currently, this site is run by individual IBT staff members. While our hope is to one day roll it into the official Teamster.org site, our efforts are at present completely voluntary. That's why this is the "Unofficial" Online Teamster Community.  

We will do our best to provide you with news and commentary as it happens, and to post your stories and related content as quickly as possible.

Do's and Don'ts 

All stories and comments submitted to Teamster Power are considered but not all will be published. Follow these guidelines to give your submission the best chance for publication:

• Do use your real name and Teamster Local number. Submissions will be subject to fact checking and verification. If we do not run your story, we will contact you and explain why. Comments by users outside the Teamster organization are permissible, but will be held to the same standards of accuracy, fairness and tone.
• Don't use foul langauge or use language against any group or individual that will reflect poorly upon you or the Teamster organization. Now, I know we are all Teamsters and that may be hard to do, but remember more than just Teamsters may be reading this. Use a little restraint.
• Do feel free to offer constructive ideas for how the Teamsters can address the issues we face.
• NO union politics. This site will remain neutral in all IBT and local races.
• NO personal attacks. There are plenty of other forums that will let you get away with that. This site is for building solidarity and unity, not whining, griping, airing dirty laundry and creating division. We will not tolerate trolls of any sort.
• Do talk about your personal experiences and stories. Ask questions. Share advice.
• Do tell us about organizing and contract victories.
• Do tell us if a company is denying you your right to organize a union or bargain collectively.

These are the rules. And we're all adults. 'Nuff said. We hope this site will become one more useful online tool for all Teamsters. You have our word that we will do our part and, brothers and sisters I am confident you will do yours.

In solidarity,

Dan Rutherford,

TeamsterPower