The Teamsters are America’s largest, most diverse union. In 1903, the Teamsters started as a merger of the two leading team driver associations. These drivers were the backbone of America’s robust economic growth, but they needed to organize to wrest their fair share from greedy corporations. Today, the Union’s task is exactly the same.

The Teamsters are known as the champion of freight drivers and warehouse workers, but have organized workers in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, private sector and public sector.

Teamsters Local 696 represents a wide variety of trades and is located in the capital of Kansas in Topeka.

We have to do it differently!!

Our economy and its effect on workers!

This is the statement of challenge. Today, our economy, our employment, our Government and yes, even our Union is changing so fast that we must look to new ideas and new ways to accomplish the things needed to keep our membership issues addressed. The struggle in these sad economic times brings new challenges for workers rights and full employment.

This encourages the Union to do more things for the members, many more than the members realize. We hope that this web page will help keep the members informed of activities being addressed by the leadership and the ones that need member involvement.

What changes in the world effect your Union?

Your Union has always been governed by the Federal Laws and State Laws that the Union Representative must adhere to and have significant knowledge of. Among these, LMRDA, Taft-Hartley, NLRA, PERB, as well as benefit rules like FMLA, Workers Compensation, ADA, Discrimination and others. In the last couple of years extensive training in the areas of resolution of Sexual Harassment complaints, Violence in the workplace, and Hostile work environment has been key in protecting all of the membership.

With all of these legal issues, the handling of grievances and issues by your Stewards and your Business Representatives has required significant education in these issues areas. It also has required a more formal and professional method of handling such issues and complaints. This education of your Agents goes a long way in protecting you from violations of issues like these and makes your life easier by ensuring that you are treated with the respect a Teamster Member deserves. While your involvement in your Union is encouraged, our familiarity with the Statutes that effect your work life, enables us to help you make the best of your workday and family life.