If you want to know what is important to an organization,
look at their checkbook.
The Teamsters Local 500 spends most of its money on itself, not on workers.

Unions like to present themselves as similar to a nonprofit organization. One of the best ways to evaluate the trustworthiness of a nonprofit is to look at the percentage of total spending that goes directly into their stated programs, versus what they spend on running the organization.
Charity watchdogs like the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and the Charity Review Council say this percentage should be no lower than 65%.

The average spending on programs of the top 100 charities in the country, according to the Forbes Top Charities list for 2024, was 87% – far above the minimum.
The image above is a list of how some well-known nonprofits stack up to this measure.

Did the Teamsters Local 500 even come close?
Hardly! The Teamsters Local 500 posted total income of over $1.2 Million in 2024, yet spent 25% on Representational Activities. The rest was spent on salaries, benefits and perks, and other overhead expenses. Almost the exact opposite of organizations whose stated purpose is to help people.
A wise saying reminds us to “choose our friends wisely.”
The table at the right provides some indication of the “company you keep” with the Teamsters. Another indication is how many Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed against them. Since 2000, the Teamsters Local 500 has had 24 Unfair Labor Practice charges filed against them, with the most recent being July of 2025.
Since 1994, the Teamsters Local 500 has filed 72 petitions. Of those 72 petitions, 49 made it to election. The union’s win rate is 42.9% According to the NLRB, Teamsters Local 500 have lost their last 5 elections.
