Proud to be a Teamster

Teamsters Local 162 is a democratic trade union established in 1903 in Portland, Oregon, by wagon drivers who joined together for better hours and working conditions. Those early Teamsters and the labor movement as a whole fought the early battles for the 8 hour work day, the weekend, overtime compensation and workplace safety. Future generations of Teamsters ushered in the era of pensions and health care for workers. The Teamsters Union is proud of our role as a strong voice in the American workplace and while we strive to protect our hard fought gains we are always looking to improve upon them.

Local 162 has an experienced group of full-time officers and legal team that administrate, negotiate and enforce Collective Bargaining Agreements on behalf of over 5,100 active Local 162 members working for employers in the private sector. We represent workers in the freight industry, package delivery, intermodal, soft drink and beer, food distribution, construction, manufacturing, grocery and general warehousing and trucking. If you bought it in the Portland area there is a good chance at one point it was handled or delivered by a Teamsters Local 162 member.

What we do is simple. Represent our members to the fullest. Expand our membership by organizing the unorganized. And stay active in the political arena, because what we gain at the bargaining table can be taken away by the stroke of a politician’s pen.

We are affiliated with Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37 based in Portland, Oregon, and are one of more than 400 Teamsters Local’s affiliated with the 1.3 million member strong International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquartered in Washington D.C.

In Solidarity,

Bob Sleight, Secretary Treasurer Mark Davison, President

Local 162 Member Retires After 40 Years at UPS

Teamsters Local 162 would like to congratulate Allen Fuerstenau on retiring from UPS after 40 years of service! Allen started out in the night shift unloading at Portland's Swan Island UPS hub in 1980. He then moved to Small's where he stayed for the duration of his career, switching from the Night shift to the Day shift in 1997.

Local 162 Member Retires After 35 Years of Service

Teamsters Local 162 would like to congratulate Bob Mather on his retirement from UPS after 35 years of service! Bob has been an excellent Teamster member and we are proud of his hard work and dedication to this great Union. Bob started out in 1986 as a peak season Christmas driver in Vancouver, WA.

Local 162 Member Celebrates 50 years of Membership

Teamsters Local 162 would like to congratulate Bill Jackson on his 50^th year as a Teamsters Local 162 member. Bill has served as a Shop Steward and employee at Pepsi Warehouse and has done a fantastic job of representing the Union. He is a great Teamster, always educating the new employees on the benefits of Union membership. Pepsi has named a street in their new facility after Bill in honor of his hard work and 50 years as a Pepsi employee. Prior to working for Pepsi, Bill served in the Marine Corps.

Teamsters Local 162 would like to thank Bill for his service to our country and his dedication to the Union. Congratulations Bill on 50 years!

Officer and Business Agent Reports for June 7th

The Sunday, June 7th General Membership meeting for Teamsters Local 162 was cancelled as the Governor order prevents the gathering. We look forward to the day when we can reconvene our meetings and enjoy the solidarity we all generate when we come together for our monthly meetings.

June 7th Local 162 General Membership Meeting Cancelled

In order to continue to comply with the orders of the Oregon Governor during this pandemic, and in the best interests and safety of the membership, Local 162’s upcoming Sunday, June 7th General Membership and Initiates Meetings are cancelled.

Local 162 Supports Striking Local 670 Members at Hood River Distillers

Hood River Distillers employees, represented by Teamsters Local 670, are on strike at the Hood River, Oregon distillery. They bottle brands such as Pendleton Whiskey and Aviation Gin among many others. Local 162, led by Secretary-Treasurer Bob Sleight, brought a team of Local 162 officers to join the strikers on the picket lines on May 13th.

Download:

Local 670 Strike - Hood River Distillers 5-6-2020.pdf

Local 162 Members Ratify Swire Coca Cola Contract

On May 11th the ballots were counted on the fully recommended contract offer at Swire Coca Cola in Wilsonville. Balloting took place over a three week period and was conducted by mail due to the pandemic. We are pleased to report that Local 162 members voted in significant numbers to overwhelmingly ratify the new agreement.

Local 162 Officer and Business Agents Reports for Cancelled May 2020 General Meeting Now Available

As we previously notified the membership the May 3, 2020 general membership and initiates meetings for Teamsters Local 162 were cancelled due to the pandemic. The following represents the reports that would have been presented at the May meeting, by Local 162 Secretary-Treasurer Bob Sleight; President Mark Davison; Business Agents' Bill Elzie, Ben Vedus, Mike Mayo, Mike Van Orsow and Don Greene; and Union Representative and Organizer Bobby Rispler.

Worker's Memorial Day, April 28, 2020

Statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on Worker's Memorial Day In the United States, Canada, and many other countries, Workers’ Memorial Day is when we remember and honor our fallen brothers and sisters in the labor movement.

What's UPS Pandemic Edition

Teamsters Local 162 has published its last edition of What's UPS and it was mailed to the homes of all Local 162 members working at UPS. What's UPS is just one of many ways that Local 162 communicates with its members at UPS.

Download:

April 2020 What's UPS Pandemic Edition.pdf

Local 162's May 3rd General Membership and Initiates Meetings Cancelled

In order to continue to comply with the orders of the Oregon Governor during this continued and unprecedented pandemic, and in the best interests and safety of the membership, Local 162’s upcoming Sunday, May 3rd General Membership and Initiates Meetings are cancelled. As we get closer to the Sunday, June 7th meetings a decision will be made concerning them.

Balloting Process to Begin on Tentative Agreement Reached at Swire Coca Cola

On the afternoon of April 10th your Union negotiating committee reached a fully recommended contract offer with Swire Coca Cola. While workers and their families are facing unprecedented times during this pandemic, including major layoffs and loss of health care and retirement benefits, we have secured a new four year contract that protects all of your Union rights and includes increases each year to employees hourly wages and pension contributions, and new provisions to reign in the growing burden of health care costs.

Swire Coca Cola Contract Negotiations Update

While the unprecedented global pandemic continues, your Union continues to negotiate with your Employer to reach a total tentative contract agreement worthy of our recommendation and your vote. Negotiations began the week of March 2nd when there had only been a few confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oregon.

IBT Health and Safety Department Issues Update on FMCSA Emergency Declaration on Hours of Service

The IBT Health and Safety Department has published an updated factsheet regarding the emergency changes to the DOT hours of service regulations for commercial truck drivers. This IBT factsheet is attached for your review.

Download:

FMCSA IBT FACTSHEET MARCH 27.pdf

Local 162 Negotiations with Swire Coca Cola Continue

Contract negotiations with Swire Coca Cola continued throughout the entire week of March 23 as the Union negotiating committee continues to work hard to secure an agreement prior to contract expiration on March 31st.