A Guide to the Teamsters Union
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, oftentimes simply called the Teamsters Union, was founded in 1903. They quickly grew into the largest labor union in the United States at that time. They are responsible for organizing workers from a multitude of various professions in an assortment of trades and industries. The goal of the Teamsters Union is to collectively negotiate terms and conditions of employment with their employers with the hope of reaching a collective bargaining unit, thus providing better job security, better wages, and better working conditions .
The Teamsters Union has more than 1.4 million members from around the world. It covers the healthcare, airline, freight, manufacturing, public services, bakeries and breweries, food processing, grocery, security, construction, and more professions. It is the second-largest private-sector labor union in the United States. The Teamsters Union helps its members fight for better wages and benefits, safer work conditions, the right to vote on benefits, and a voice at work.
The Basics of Teamsters’ Legal Benefits
When it comes to ensuring the job security, safety, and welfare of their workers, most Trade Unions (especially Teamsters) prefer to handle virtually all negotiations, grievances, and issues with regard to or against their members. For Teamsters Union members, this is primarily done through the Teamsters Legal Benefits Plan in which Teamsters Union will pay for the legal costs of its members.
Teamsters Legal Benefits is a recently upgraded system in which all Teamsters members have access to two hours of free attorney services on any matter of their choosing. The attorney will then bill the union for any time after the two hour limit and can be used for anything such as: contract negotiations, personal advice, personal representation, and even for lawsuits. However, if you need legal services and are not a member of the Teamsters, do note that there are some eligibility requirements that must be met in order to use legal benefits.
Teamsters Legal Benefits is completely free, but it does require union membership verification and restriction if only signing up now and not when you first joined the union. Most likely, you will have to qualify for the benefits by being a member for a certain amount of time, but that varies by local union within the Teamsters Union group.
Although the process does not take long and is very easy to use, there are also limitations to what the plan covers, as well as where you can be represented. In all cases, it must be determined whether or not the case is sufficient to have a relation with the Teamsters, in which case the union will be charged the fees that are needed for the legal representation. In an average Teamsters case, you could expect the bill to be around $250, though it can go into the thousands, depending on the complexity of the case.
When it comes to the best law firms in the country for Teamsters Legal Benefits, the main one is the law firm of Bononi Law Group in Michigan and are strictly for the benefit of the Teamsters Union.
Accessing Teamsters’ Legal Benefits
In order to access your legal benefits, you must be a member of the Teamsters. Company’s do not contribute to your legal plan; however, they may agree to a reduction in your hourly wage for the purchase of this benefit.
You are eligible for your legal benefits after you become a member of the union and pay your one-time membership initiation fee. Annual dues are reduced for employees subject to collective bargaining agreements. To use these benefits, you must be currently working, paying dues, or on an approved leave of absence. If you are laid-off from your job, you may use your legal benefits for up to 60 days as long as you have been an active employee for at least 30 continuous days.
Many legal benefits can be used for issues involving YOU, you and your spouse, or you and your children. In some cases, you may not have any joint rights with a deceased or divorced spouse. Improvements in the law have allowed many family law areas to include "step" rights. These rights may allow you to use your legal benefits for adopting a child, even if you have no other rights with the child’s parent.
How Teamsters’ Legal Benefits Help You
Legal support offered through the Teamsters is meant to address all of the legal needs a member or their family might encounter. Some of the most serious issues members face are disputes within their workplaces. Teamsters lawyer Julian Solomon can act quickly to put an end to wrongful termination, or assist a member in getting disability compensation if they were wrongfully denied reinstatement. He can also aid union leadership in dealing with discrimination and harassment in their shops.
Some examples of legal support that have been extremely beneficial to Teamsters members include large settlements for injury claims and workers’ compensation disputes. A private member was able to recover an extremely important life-changing settlement when he was injured on the job. This is the kind of legal protection that Teamster members deserve at all times.
Showing Real-World Impact of Teamsters’ Legal Benefits
Having solid law benefits has a beneficial impact on our members, boosting their ability to deal with everyday legal matters such as legal work in a divorce, were in a car accident, tenant/landlord issues, and bankruptcies. There were 55,597 ‘law’ calls to the Teamsters Legal Helpline in 2018 alone from our members.
Our members’ lives are stressful enough, so we take our role in providing support for stressed-out members very seriously. When members know there are no added costs for calls to the helpline and that there’s less than a wait of ten seconds before being immediately transferred to an attorney, those members will call their helpline for guidance and solutions.
A class of 1182 members had used the helpline. They received some very precise legal advice that worked for them based on their individual circumstances. I’m very proud of our record and would never guarantee an outcome to anyone, but make it clear a legal professional will sort through the legal jargon and help members identify and implement solutions.
For instance, in the case of a Teamster member involved in a divorce, our attorney gave a great deal of guidance in navigating the process by explaining what divorce is about, how it works, what is needed to be properly prepared , and what expectations should be set.
The results of using the helpline don’t end there. Many times, our members have won back thousands of dollars. Members have successfully sued employers, been awarded child support, and such as an example, one member who had trouble getting his social security disability payments flowing correctly managed to win $157,000 thanks to use of the helpline.
Case law and statutes can be complicated and difficult to understand; a legal layman can waste time trying to figure out what is a clear path of action. Our helpline lawyers know the law, and their expertise can give our members clear direction in figuring out their paths.
Time is another reason for the success of the helpline. We’ve seen clients more quickly achieve their goals when they speak to experts immediately. I believe this is a key factor as to why the 121,455 calls were handled by the helpline in 2018.
The line cuts across all unions. Members have called from all Teamster unions in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida. There are stories like this across the country.
My grandfather was a Teamster member and said the union was "like a good dog, it runs alongside, protects you, and is always there." That is what our helpline does for our members.
Comparing Teamster’s Legal Benefits to Other Unions
Unlike many unions, the Teamsters offer their membership a comprehensive legal plan which provides benefits for civil, unemployment and immigration matters. Legal benefits are among the most sought after benefits for union membership, offering a way in which unions can empower its members, and giving workers peace of mind knowing that the union has their back.
Specifically, the Teamsters offer unlimited access to legal advice on all civil matters including family law, real estate, credit issues and bankruptcy. In addition, the local union will pay Teamsters members’ attorney fees for court appearances or trial up to $300 with a case limit of $5000. An affiliated Teamster union will cover each member’s legal expenses in the event of an appeal by the opposing party who loses in initial trial court. Through the Teamsters legal plan there is no waiting period for legal matters. This is unique amongst labor union supported plans, which often have a waiting period for calls and basic advice.
While the Teamsters legal plan covers civil, immigration, and unemployment benefits, some unions, like the SEIU and the UAW, only cover unemployment and immigration matters. Among unions, LIUNA offers the most comprehensive legal plan.
Other aspects of the Teamsters Legal benefits include ICE raid protection ($1000 monetary benefit as well as a $2000 counseling and representation benefit) and court appearance coverage. In the event of an arrest for drunk driving, a Teamsters member can count on legal benefits for counseling and license restoration.
While other unions like the UAW only cover members who work more than 40 hours a week, the Teamsters legal plan includes anyone and everyone who is a member. Generally, the Teamsters legal plan costs each member about $5 per month.
Recent Legal Updates for Teamsters
It is important to stay informed on the recent developments in Teamsters Legal Benefits we provide to our members. We work hard with the Teamsters to make updates to the benefits plan, or seek clarifications when needed. We are always looking for opportunities to improve the benefits we offer to our members.
One of the recent changes to the Legal Services provided to Members is the creation of a specific Member’s Contract Advisors Committee. Previously, if a members contract advisor is unavailable to take a call, you could wait for them to finish with the previous caller or leave a voice mail. In some cases, that works for all involved, but in others, members have not been able to talk to an advisor when they needed to. With the new Contract Advisors Committee, every member will be assigned a contract advisor based on their last name. If your advisor is unavailable someone else will be able to assist you. This means more calls can be answered while members get the assistance they need.
Another recent enhancement is the addition of new forms for our member’s use for the following topics: None of these enhancements would have been possible without the input and feedback from our members and the Teamsters Union. If you have ideas for enhancement to the benefit plan, please let us know.
The Value of Teamsters Legal Benefits
In summary, the Teamsters Union offers its members a variety of legal benefits to help them navigate the often-complex legal issues they may face. By being aware of these benefits and knowing how to access them, Teamster members can better protect themselves and their families when legal challenges arise .
Whether it’s in the area of family law, bankruptcy, immigration, real estate, workers’ rights, workers’ compensation, or personal injury, the benefits offered by the Teamsters can make it easier for members to find the right legal representation and resources they need.
Staying informed is key. By regularly checking for updates on Teamster legal benefits and taking advantage of the resources available through the Union, members can help ensure their rights are protected and their legal matters are handled efficiently.
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