It is too early in the morning to be this hot, but Austin, Texas is like that in July. I am here at Netroots Nation, where I have been since Wednesday afternoon, talking about the union movement, UnionReview.com and the Teamsters.
The party last night was amazing! We drank, talked, danced to amazing music, and laughed ... a lot. My only complaint is a question: Why Nancy Pelosi at 9 in the morning? (I am trashed!)

This morning's diary is a round up of conversations that I was fortunate enough to be part of regarding the labor movement, the Teamsters, and progressive allied bloggers coming aboard.

There is a pleasant theme to all of the discussions I participated in over the last couple days. The theme that progressive bloggers are aligned with the union movement is a breath of fresh air for a guy obsessed with spreading the word of labor in the United States. It is also a relief to learn that people would write more about issues facing the labor movement if they understood the labor movement.
There is a lot out here to wrap our heads around. While many of us have a basic awareness of the Employee Free Choice Act; perhaps the most important piece of legislation facing working class America in a gazillion years, I believe it is critical to start narratives on how current organizing campaigns would unravel if the Employee Free Choice Act was in place.

We talk about this stuff on UnionReview.com on a somewhat regular basis. We do the same on Teamsterpower.com, joesunionreview.com, uniongal.blogspot.com, Teamstersonline.com, ubcnewsroom.com and many other sites (most of which are linked up on the sites mentioned above). & I cordially invite everyone here in Texas , and beyond, to visit these sites, do a basic search about organizing campaigns, lock outs, buying union made goods, Mexican trucking.  Learn about FirstGroup, the largest North American school bus company, and how their workers are organizing one yard at a time into the Teamster fold.
 
At the Teamsters I work on campaign websites and organize online. Basically this means that everything and anything pertaining to a particular campaign is generally found on those web environments mentioned -- or linked to at http://www.teamster.org; the IBT's main website. While the vast majority of the sites that I work on are rank-and-file driven, yet clearly there is enough information spelled out for the nonmember to learn and appreciate.

Since I am here in Austin with Teamsters, I thought it would only be appropriate to sound off on a list of sites I welcome you to visit, learn about and communicate on:

http://www.schoolbusworkersunited.org – the site dedicated to driving up standards in the School Bus and Transit Industry sector

http://www.fedexwatch.com – One of the most important organizing campaigns in history. Learn about misclassification of workers and trampling on worker rights while this massive company counts profits year after year.

http://www.firemarypeters.com – This is a site that is not updated as regularly as others – but is still a chock full of information about NAFTA and the Mexican trucking pilot program. Learn how Mary Peters blatantly told the working class to go to hell, that she is above the law.

http://www.budwatch.com – Mainly a news-driven site to help the 7,000 Teamsters who are faced with a buy out of Bud from Belgian beer giant InBev.

http://www.fedxmx.com is the site dedicated the FedEx Mechanics Class and Craft. The workers in this division are employees who’ve put in a great many years for a company that once talked about "People First ..." Interestingly enough ... these workers had their pensions froze on June 1. They are looking to lose about $40,000 a year for the rest of their lives (This is a lose estimate that requires particular variables: years of service; occupation). The workers are now looking to the Teamsters to organize for a contract that will protect their futures.

I urge everyone reading this to learn about the issues we are working on at the Teamsters. Please understand that most unions in the United States are dealing with issues that are similar to those we face with the workers in their respective jurisdictions. Please take into consideration how these issues would not be as extreme as they are with the Employee Free Choice Act in place. Please consider that we would have even greater reach of our message with progressive bloggers who are not only aligned with the labor movement, but understand the intricacies of the web in which it is. Please know that if there is ever any question about the union movement, the issues at the Teamsters ... or helping to get the word out, anyone can contact me. This is not to say that I will have all the answers, most of the times I won’t, but I am fairly well connected to a network of incredibly intelligent people who can help me frame a response to your queries.