InsideSources

The Teamsters union warned good jobs are at risk Monday over a decision by the Obama administration to stop construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline.

After twice defending its approval process in court, with victories in both cases, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reversed course when it announced Sunday that it would not approve construction permits needed to finish the project. The Teamsters argued the decision will hurt working Americans.

“The decision will have a direct and negative impact on the hardworking men and women—including Teamsters and other union members—who have invested their lives in building the infrastructure that makes this country run,” the Teamsters said in a statement provided to InsideSources. “The Teamsters Union looks forward to moving past this disappointing decision toward the eventual approval of this easement and completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline.”

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters claim the nearly completed pipeline runs too close to sacred tribal burial sites and could affect the tribe’s water supply, though the pipeline never crosses onto tribal land. The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) argues the Obama administration is “appeasing environmental extremists.”

“Blocking the final portion of construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline after it is 93 percent complete and fully reviewed is a short-sighted, gutless, and irresponsible decision,” LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan said in a statement Sunday. “It only serves to prolong the conflict that is dividing communities in North Dakota.”

Labor unions have historically sided with Democrats except when policies threaten their members’ livelihoods. The Teamsters represent more than 1.4 million workers from a range of industries. LIUNA has over a half-million members primarily in the energy and construction industries.

“Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do,” Army Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy said Sunday. “The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.”

Labor unions have been highly critical of the administration over similar efforts in the past. The Keystone XL Pipeline faced fierce opposition from critics who argued it would harm the environment. LIUNA and the Teamsters opposed efforts by the president at the time to delay and eventually derail the Keystone pipeline.

Critics claim Dakota Access poses a threat to the environment. O’Sullivan argues the pipeline actually poses little risk to the region because it will be safely constructed. He adds there are already fourteen pipelines going under the Missouri River that are not causing any issues.

“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had opportunity after opportunity to weigh in on the process during the last two years and only recently after the pipeline was almost complete decided to engage,” O’Sullivan said, referring to repeated efforts by the corps to meet and discuss the pipeline route. “This pipeline will be safely constructed to bring energy where it’s needed – without exposing communities to the unnecessary risk caused by transporting fuel by rail or truck.”

O’Sullivan notes the decision is also pointless since the courts or President-Elect Donald Trump will likely overturn it. He adds previous court decisions have already ruled the project was lawfully reviewed and community input was adequately considered.

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National union leaders urged their members to call their elected officials Wednesday in another attempt to defeat a pending international trade deal.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has faced opposition from unions who claim it would be harmful to workers. President Barack Obama found himself at odds with many within his own party for negotiating the deal. Labor unions renewed their opposition in the hopes lawmakers will reject it.

“Civil society groups all over the country are calling on Congress,” the Teamsters said in an email to members, which was obtained by InsideSources. “We urge Teamsters everywhere to join this action and flood Congress’s phone lines today with calls to every lawmaker asking them to pledge their opposition to the TPP.”

The president has begun renewing efforts to win enough support in Congress. The trade deal has sat without a vote since being finalized October 2015 by the partner countries. Labor unions claim the deal would undermine worker rights while benefiting large international corporations.

“Multinational corporations and Republican congressional leaders want to jam through the TPP,” the United Auto Workers said in a message to members. “[It’s] an awful trade deal that will put Americans out of work, degrade environmental protections and increase prescription drug price.”

The trade deal is designed to gradually end thousands of import tariffs and other international trade barriers. It would also establish uniform rules for intellectual property, environmental protections and open Internet access. The trade deal is likely to have a significant impact on international trade at roughly 39 percent of global GDP.

The White House has argued the trade deal will actually help workers despite what unions claim. It will cover a few countries known for notorious labor violations. Communist Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are among the partner countries cited for labor and human rights violations.

Unions and other critics have compared the deal to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They claim the deal resulted in many American jobs being lost. The president has previously insisted the deal could help fix many of the problems NAFTA caused.

Labor unions have tried numerous methods to fight the trade deal. They have held rallies and launched media campaigns, including attacks on liberals. Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice was the target of a video in June 2015 for breaking with unions to support fast-tracking the trade deal.

Teamsters presidential hopeful Fred Zuckerman denounced the incumbent president James Hoffa for dodging another debate Thursday.

Zuckerman has campaigned over the past year in the hopes of becoming the next union president. He was able to express his views and concerns during a debate hosted by the National Press Club. During the debate Zuckerman bashed Hoffa for sending Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall instead of attending himself.

“Again, General President Hoffa is a no show,” Zuckerman proclaimed. “As you know Hoffa has never debated in front of the membership during an election. You may not know this, but this is the third debate that he has ducked this year. It is time for him to stop being a coward and stand in front of the membership.”

Zuckerman argued that union leadership has failed to properly serve its members. He believes the union faces structural issues and corruption. Hall countered the attacks by asserting Zuckerman simply has a personal grudge against leadership.

“My opponent here is a self-described angry man,” Hall stated. “But he’s not angry for all the reasons that he tells you. He is angry because in January of 2010 he practically begged us to let him get on the Hoffa Hall slate as a candidate, and we rejected that. It was not personal at the time, I like Fred.”

The Teamsters election rules allow the president to send someone to debates and events on his behalf. Nevertheless, the debate moderator also questioned his absence. Hall was given the chance to explain why Hoffa decided not to attend the debate.

“Jim Hoffa is out doing what he’s supposed to be doing, he’s out representing our members,” Hall said. “There frankly is no good reason that Jim Hoffa would be standing here and letting an angry local union officer just run down this union. He has more important things to do than that.”

Hall adds that the president has a long history of supporting members on the ground during protests and events. Hoffa has overseen the union since 1999, and his father was one of the most famous union presidents in history. Zuckerman focused primarily on Hoffa but still took time to attack Hall for his own record.

“So they sent Ken Hall, who I feel is the most dishonest and corrupt union official within the teamsters,” Zuckerman noted. “We have real problems in this union. Corruption, loss of membership, lack of organizing, deteriorating contracts and standards and loss of pensions for over one half-million teamsters.”

The election supervisor will mail out ballots Oct. 6 to every member of the union. The ballot count will officially begin Nov. 14 to determine who the next union president will be. There are 21 contested offices membership will be voting on.