General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall from the IBT swearing-in President Hamilton and his slate
TEAMSTERS RE-ELECT WILLIAM HAMILTON
AS HEAD OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONFERENCE OF TEAMSTERS
May 16, 2012
(Harrisburg, PA) – President Hamilton and his slate of candidates have been re-elected to a new four-year term by acclamation. The Delegates attending the 8th Area Convention of the PA Conference of Teamsters demonstrated their strong support for the incumbent officers and their loyalty to the PA Conference. It was gratifying to see the unity and solidarity of all the affiliates. President Hamilton wishes to congratulate his slate and thank all the delegates for supporting his slate and supporting the Conference. The re-elected officers clearly expressed that each is there to serve the interest of the membership in opposing laws and outside forces that attempt to undermine the integrity and well being of the Teamsters. Each has further pledged to work tirelessly to give all the affiliates the best possible service.
President Hamilton noted that the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters has become the most powerful and aggressive labor body in Pennsylvania, and promised four more years of continued positive action with programs on political action, legislation, voter registration and membership participation as priorities. President Hamilton vowed to continue and improve the Pennsylvania Conference’s aims and goals of giving the workers of Pennsylvania and the other Conference States the highest standards of representation in all levels of political action and legislation.
As the largest, most powerful labor organization in the state, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters officers recognize and accept their duty to represent the interests of the Conference’s 95,000 members and of all working men and women in the political process.
The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters is the political arm of the Teamsters in Pennsylvania. It coordinates Teamster political activity and fights for working families on labor, construction and public employee issues.
The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters represents more than 95,000 Teamsters from 47 Local Unions and 18 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen divisions in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.
Hoffa carries 94% of the PA Conference of Teamsters Affiliates to win re-election
Final Ballot Tabulation for the 2011 IBT Election by the Office of the Election Supervisor is as Follows
HOFFA
137,172
GEGARE
54,148
POPE
39,251
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Ohio Teamsters Hail SB5 Defeat As Victory For Ohio's Middle Class
November 8, 2011 Say Ohioans Won’t Get Fooled Again Galen Munroe gmunroe@teamster.org 202-624-6911 (CINCINNATI) –Ohio Teamsters’ leadership tonight said the defeat of Senate Bill 5 showed that Ohio voters support collective bargaining. SB5 would have stripped more than 350,000 public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights. “On behalf of all Ohio Teamsters and organized labor, the citizens of Ohio sent a message to Gov. Kasich and the Koch brothers, ‘Keep your hands off our rights to collectively bargain’,” said William Lichtenwald, President of Teamsters Local 20 in Cincinnati and the Ohio Conference of Teamsters. “I hope the politicians in Columbus wake up and start listening to the middle class and looking out for our interests as opposed to corporate interests,” said Randy Verst, president of Teamsters Joint Council 26 in Cincinnati. “Extreme politicians tried to shift the burden of the economic crisis to the middle class,” said Al Mixon, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 507 in Cleveland and a Teamsters International Vice President. “They tried to destroy our basic right to freedom of speech, the freedom to negotiate, the freedom to have a voice in the workplace. SB5 doesn’t just affect labor, it affects everybody. If they take away our basic rights, then they’ll take away everybody’s. Fortunately, Ohioans have come together to defeat this bad legislation. We won’t get fooled again.” “This isn’t just a big victory for the Teamster snowplow drivers, corrections officers and nurses who work for the State of Ohio. It’s a big victory for Ohio’s middle-class workers,” said Gary Tiboni, President of Teamsters Local 436 in Valley View; Mr. Tiboni is also, President of Joint Council 41. Teamsters represent 55,000 workers in Ohio, including about 7,000 police officers, snowplow drivers, nurses and corrections officers. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including more than 70,000 members in the airline industry. Visit www.local2727.org and www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter at #Teamsterpower.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
GENERAL PRESIDENT HOFFA
Here's what he had to say about tonight's tremendous victory in Ohio: "Ohio voters just sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street, you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. And if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you will win. “John Kasich thought he could get away with blaming workers for a budget deficit caused by Wall Street greed. He was dead wrong. Now he’s one of the most unpopular governors in the country. Ohio voters understand that nurses and snowplow drivers and firefighters don’t go to work for the government to get rich. Ohioans showed on Tuesday that they won’t stand for attacks on middle-class workers. I’m sure they’re no different from voters in any other state.
“For the first time in history, collective bargaining for government workers was approved in a statewide ballot. This election shows the public supports workers’ right to for a union in order to bargain with their employer. It’s a huge victory for all middle-class working families in Ohio. “The Teamsters are grateful to the voters of Ohio for their support. And I’m proud of the Teamsters who worked so hard to collect signatures and to get out the vote. Most of the 55,000 Teamsters in Ohio work for private companies, but they showed tremendous solidarity with their fellow Teamsters who work for the government and with all public workers."
Actor and director Danny DeVito speaks at IBT Convention tells the Teamsters “Out source the CEO’s and bring the jobs back to the USA”! Listen to his speech
Tom Morello renowned acoustic guitarist supports the Teamsters. Listen to his speech and music.
The PA Conference of Teamsters’ troops converged
on Harrisburg, PA - April 11, 2011
flanking the Capitol from the north, south, east and west to protest PA House Bill 50 (Right-to-Workfor less) and other legislation detrimental to the working men and women of Pennsylvania
Photos courtesy of the Rick Smith Show; B. Banditell
(Harrisburg, PA) The PA Conference of Teamsters’ troops converged on Harrisburg, PA on 4/11/2011 and flanked the Capitol from the north, south, east and west to protest PA House Bill 50 (Right-to-Work for less) and other legislation detrimental to the working men and women of Pennsylvania.
Our message was loud and clear to the elected officials, “Stop the War on Workers“. With over 400 Teamsters present, PA Conference President Hamilton promised to bring 10,000 if they continue the assault on workers and their rights.
The PA Conference would like to thank all the affiliates for their unwavering support and especially Teamsters Local 776 located in Harrisburg who went beyond the call of duty. We would also, like to thank all the other national unions and friends of labor that supported us on 4/11.
We would like to offer a special thank you to Representative Pat Harkins and Representative Bill Keller for not only standing with the Teamsters on 4/11 but for standing with the working men and women 100% of the time.
This rally wasn’t about the Teamsters it was about our children and their children that they have good paying middle-class jobs and rights like their hard working parents.
Let's not erase 100 years of labors' hard fought battles to help the working class. Remember many of your parents and grandparents got you to where you are today thanks to labors help in securing good wages, benefits and safety in the work place. Tell your representative to oppose HB 50 and all anti-worker legislation and please tell them to support PA House Resolution 134.
At 95,000 strong, (not including retirees, family and friends) we will support our allies and battle our enemies. Remember you reap just what you sow and we will remember in May and November.
View various articles below on this rally. Photos displayed are taken from Local 776 Web Site which indicate the “Photos courtesy of our friends at the Rick Smith Show: B. Banditell. You can also view a video link of the rally from Clip Syndicate (CBS New 21-Harrisburg, PA) by copying and pasting:
HARRISBURG - A Teamsters rally today drew almost 400 laborers to the Capitol, where union leaders promised to bring thousands next time if lawmakers push through anti-worker legislation.
Last week Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry) introduced a package of bills that would end mandatory union membership for employees of the state's schools, government and businesses.
"There is a war on workers going on in Pennsylvania, sadly," said Pennsylvania AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Frank Snyder, also of Cranberry. "We need more jobs. We don't need legislation like this."
Others at the rally said Metcalfe's legislation would take resources away from unions and would dilute their abilities to negotiate fair wages and benefits for members.
Bill Hamilton, president of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, organized the rally to get that message out.
He said conservative Republicans like Metcalfe aim to bust unions rather than to enact responsible legislation.
During a news conference last week, Metcalfe said it's unfair to force an employee to join a union and pay dues to an organization that might advocate views they disagree with.
Other right-to-work bills have been introduced in previous legislative sessions but not approved.
Twenty-two other states have adopted similar legislation.
Harkins: Support of union rights and education vital for Pa.’s future
HARRISBURG, April 11 –Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, today spoke at a Teamsters’ rally at the state Capitol in support of union rights and against so-called "Right to Work Legislation," which essentially would stop union workers from organizing in the Commonwealth. Harkins also called on Gov. Tom Corbett to not cut education funding for the children of working-class families and teachers.
"As a teamster for 25 years, I know firsthand how important unions are to the hardworking families of this great Commonwealth," Harkins said. "If it was not for the hard work and determination of our founding union brothers and sisters, workers today would not enjoy many of the rights they earn today – such as sick time, vacation time, and paid health care."
Harkins spoke about his measure, H.R. 134, which recognizes the rights of union workers to organize and calls for an end to the war on workers. He cautioned Corbett against cutting workers' rights, saying he was concerned Pennsylvania could enact anti-union legislation such as Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana have done.
"We do not want to see Pennsylvania join the sad, anti-worker likes of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who has systematically dismantled the rights of normal citizens to challenge major corporations,” Harkins said. "The state cannot put the interests of Wall Street profits and out-of-state business owners over the hardworking families of Pennsylvania."
In response to Corbett’s proposal to sell off the state bus donated by former Gov. Ed Rendell, Harkins said the governor should instead use it to see firsthand the effects of anti-union legislation on Pennsylvania’s hardworking families and the towns they live in.
"Governor Corbett should ask some AFSCME PennDOT mechanics to fix up the bus and hire some Teamster drivers to drive him around the state to see the impact anti-union legislation has had on our working-class families," Harkins said. "Maybe then he will understand the profound effect on our once-bustling industries and factories these proposed budget cuts would have, causing great cities to become shells of their former selves."
Under the governor’s proposed budget, which cuts more than $1 billion in education funding, the Erie School District would receive a cut of nearly $11 million, or 18 percent. This would mean an additional $268.51 in taxes for already tapped out property owners in the city of Erie.
"The great union leader Jimmy Hoffa once said our teamsters’ children deserve the best education we can offer," Harkins said. "I challenge Governor Corbett to honor his words, and give the children of the working-class families of this Commonwealth the same educational opportunities as every other student."
Harkins said the governor’s budget hurts not only the state’s children, but also their devoted teachers.
"We must do everything we can to protect the rights of our kids to learn and our teachers to educate," Harkins said. "By cutting education spending, we are sacrificing that right for a whole generation of students."
Image:
PA REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK J. HARKINS
ALONG WITH MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES
STANDS WITH THE WORKING MEN & WOMEN
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Hon. Representative Patrick J. Harkins
(Harrisburg, PA) On behalf of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters and our 95,000 members we would like to applaud Representative Patrick Harkins along with his fellow colleagues for standing up for the working men and women of Pennsylvania. Representative Harkins along with a number of other representatives introduced PA House Resolution 134 (Session of 2011) supporting the right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain with employers.
Historically labor unions are responsible for the civilized working conditions we take for granted, including the 40 hour work week, laws pertaining to child labor, health and safety standards, overtime pay and many other benefits.
Representative Harkins has always been a strong advocate for workers rights and has always stood with the working men and women in this great Commonwealth. As a former driver with United Parcel Service for 23 years, Representative Harkins knows first hand the needs of working people.
Rep. Harkins along with Representatives Conklin, Briggs, W. Keller, Sabatina, Bishop, Bradford, Brennan, Caltagirone, Cohen, D. Costa, Deluca, Josephs, Hornaman, Goodman, Fabrizio, Kotik, Mahoney, Mann, Mundy, Murphy, M. O’Brien, Wagner, Staback, Roebuck, Readshaw, DeWeese and Gibbons have taken a stand against the war on workers rights by introducing PA H.R. 134. Now, lets do our part by contacting the remaining state representatives and telling them to likewise, standup for workers’ rights and sign onto PA H.R. 134. If your Representative’s name is listed above please take the time to thank them.
You can view or print PA HR 134 from the link below.
The Right-to-Work tidal wave is approaching in many of our Conference states. We must stand united to counter these wage destroying Bills. This is an issue that will hit you, the hard working union member, right in your pocketbook regardless of your party affiliation or your views on politics. Brothers and Sisters WE CANNOT let this type of legislation pass. We must let our elected officials' know we will not stand for the destruction of middle class wages and furthermore, we will vociferously campaign against any elected official favoring this type of wage killing legislation. Below is a post from our General President on this issue.
The vast, corporate-funded campaign to weaken unions and lower wages of middle-class workers has reached into statehouses all over the country. Last week in Maine, Rep. Tom Winsor requested that so-called "right-to-work" bills be drafted. So did Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello. In New Hampshire, Rep. Will Smith proposed a "right-to-work" law. Similar bills were also proposed in Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, West Virginia, and Missouri. I expect at least half a dozen more. Working families need to fight like hell against these dangerous attacks on their wages, their benefits and their job security. Research shows that most people don't know what these anti-union laws really do. That's intentional. You can be absolutely sure that a great deal of time and money was spent coming up with the misleading "right to work" name. It sounds like it prevents workers from being denied a job. That isn't what it does at all. A so-called "right to work" law prohibits security clauses in union contracts. Security clauses require all workers who receive the benefit of a union contract and union representation to share the administrative costs for those services. These "right to freeload" laws are on the books in low-wage states like Mississippi and South Carolina. That's not a coincidence. When union wages go down, workers' wages fall throughout the state. A coordinated network of think tanks, business groups and phony grass-roots organizations has for years been working toward passing these right-to-work (for LESS) laws. Leading the charge is National Right to Work. The only right it defends is billionaires' right to their wealth. The anti-worker group attracts funding from the Mellon heirs, the Wal-Mart heirs and the Coors heirs. Right-to-work bills are political payback for campaign contributions by corporations and billionaires. They are supported by false claims that they create jobs. What they have done in the states where they've been enacted is lower wages by an average of $5,333 a year. In right-to-work states: •Fewer people have health insurance and the taxpayers pay substantially more to support the state's Medicaid program. •The rate of workplace deaths is 51 percent higher. •The poverty rate rises; it's 19.1 percent in right-to-work states, compared with 16.6 percent in other states. Don't be fooled by the misleading propaganda created by billionaires and corporations for the politicians they've purchased. These proposals have nothing to do with the right to work. They're all about forcing people to work for less.
In 1995 this "95" Pontiac Grand Prix was Driven by NASCAR Driver Jimmy Hensley & sponsored by Teamsters Local No. 71 in Charlotte, NC
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