With union membership numbers dropping steadily in recent years, Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa has stated time and time again that "organizing is our new priority." But recent petition and election statistics don't look good for the union's renewed emphasis on organizing.

Figures compiled by the Bureau of National Affairs show the Teamsters filed almost 11,000 petitions for election with the National Labor Relations Board between 1995 and the end of 2004. However, they wound up winning barely 29% of the time. That's a lot of work for not much in return.

In 2004 alone, they filed almost 900 petitions but were consistent with recent years as they managed to win only 30%. It's hard to grow a union much less stay even when the overwhelming majority of employees turn you down time after time.

And rather than adding new members, the Teamsters were involved in 178 decertification petitions in 2004, where union members decide whether to kick the union out. The Teamsters were able to win barely 13% of the decertification petitions filed, again not a good sign for a struggling union.

Below is a chart that clearly illustrates the decline in IBT membership in the last several years.

IBT Membership