The role of the teamsters union in the construction industry.

Abstract

The Teamsters Union, through its National Building Material and Construction Division, plays an important role in the building process. Although the division's membership is small compared to some of the construction trade unions, it performs the vital task of transportation of building materials to, from, and around the job site. Work actually performed by a typical Teamster local depends on area practice and the local's bargaining power relative to other labor sources. A potential for jurisdictional disputes exists where Teamster claims overlap or come close to other union's assertions. Settlements of these disputes set precedents by which other disputes may be settled. The fact that dispute settlements are sometimes inconsistent with jurisdictional agreements reflects the importance of area practice and the prejudices of the arbitrators. Future agreements may also modify previous settlements. Information for this paper was collected through personal interviews and telephone conversations with officials and representatives of the Teamsters Union and officers of various labor organizations. Two locals were studied to determine if variations existed in the actual work performed by the Teamsters Union members. Much time was spent examining collective bargaining agreements and studying various settlements of jurisdictional disputes between the Teamsters Union and unions of the construction trades.