Political Action Archives

July to December 2008

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HOFFA LAUDS SOLIS
TEAMSTERS GENERAL PRESIDENT JIM HOFFA PRAISES NOMINATION OF HILDA SOLIS AS LABOR SECRETARY

(December 19, 2008, Washington, D.C., IBT News) Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement in support of the expected nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., as Labor Secretary:

“We’re thrilled with the selection of Rep. Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary. Under her leadership, we expect the Labor Department to return to its mission of protecting workers rather than attacking them.
“Hilda Solis has deep roots in the union movement. Her dad was a Teamster shop steward, her mom a member of the United Rubber Workers. She’s the only member of Congress to serve on the board of American Rights at Work. She is smart, gutsy and passionately committed to the right to form unions and bargain collectively.
“She has given unwavering support to the port drivers who are deprived of basic workplace protections because they’re misclassified as independent contractors. She made sure the Labor Department continued to ban privatization of its workforce. She has been a leader in fighting against bad free trade policies. She funded a successful campaign to raise the minimum wage in California.
“We’re counting on her to put a full court press behind the Employee Free Choice Act, which will strengthen unions and the middle class. We know she will have President-elect Obama’s ear when he nominates National Labor Relations Board members. And we know she will continue her leadership in creating green union jobs in America. 
“We look forward to working closely with Secretary-designate Solis. We hope the Senate confirms her nomination quickly.”

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ATLAS, POLAR AIR ON BOARD
ATLAS, POLAR AIR CARGO CREWMEMBERS VOTE TO JOIN TEAMSTERS UNION 
GROUP OF NEARLY 900 WORKERS VOTE TO JOIN UNION BY A 2-1 MARGIN

(December 19, 2008, Washington, D.C., IBT News) By a more than 2 to 1 margin, nearly 900 crewmembers at Atlas Air, Inc. and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide have voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

 “We are excited to welcome the Atlas and Polar flight crewmembers to the Teamsters,” Hoffa said. “Our Airline Division, under the leadership of Capt. David Bourne, will help negotiate a strong contract for the crewmembers. The Teamsters will also provide accountable representation.”

The crewmembers have been represented by an association, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), but the association does not have the focus, strength and cargo experience of the Teamsters to represent their interests.

“Now, the Atlas and Polar crewmembers will receive strong Teamster representation and they will have an independent local union backed by the 1.4 million member Teamsters,” Bourne said. “The Teamsters have the necessary resources to help our newest members achieve a more secure future.”

The Teamsters will also allow the crewmembers more decision-making power through their Teamster Local Union for the issues that matter most to them.

Crewmembers voted by telephone and over the Internet since November 19, and the votes were tallied today. The election was administered by the National Mediation Board.

The Teamsters Airline Division represents more than 40,000 workers in the aviation industry in every craft and class.

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GUESS WHO FEDEX CUTS?
FEDEX CUTS WORKERS RETIREMENT COMPENSATION WHILE CEO RAKES IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PENSION
MORE DRASTIC CUTS IN WORKFORCE COMPENSATION FUELS DRIVE FOR TEAMSTER REPRESENTATION

(December 18, 2008, Washington, D.C., IBT News) FedEx Corp. [NYSE: FDX] today announced drastic cuts in pay and deferred compensation for most of its U.S. workforce. Salaried U.S. FedEx employees will take permanent 5 percent to 10 percent base salary reductions while FedEx founder, Chief Executive and Chairman Fred Smith will take a permanent 20 percent reduction in base salary. According to company statements, hourly employees will not see base wages impacted in this round of cost controls.

“The FedEx workers that have made this company a household name and deliver the profits will now shoulder more insecurity for their futures,” said Teamster General President Jim Hoffa. “At the busiest time of their delivery season, the company is delivering nothing but coal for its workforce.”

More dramatically for hourly employees, bonus compensation and the company’s 401(k) matching contribution will cease for 2009. This unilateral decision to stop 401(k) matches closely follows the June 2008 capping of FedEx Express employees’ defined benefit pension. In announcing the end of the defined benefit plan in 2007 FedEx said, “Planning and saving for retirement is a partnership between FedEx and its employees, and we are committed to helping our employees enjoy a financially sound future,”

Apparently, that “partnership” is no longer part of the corporation’s future.

Although garnering headlines for his salary adjustment, Smith meanwhile retains $26,411,752 accrued under the FedEx Retirement Parity Pension Plan and $1,164,464 under the Employees’ Pension Plan. Additionally, Smith’s $1.4 million salary only comprised 13 percent of the $10.9 million that he raked in for 2008. In fact, 55 percent of Smith’s 2008 pay was in stock options not tied to any performance goals.

As of May 31, Smith also held currently exercisable, in-the-money options worth $24.9 million, based on yesterday’s closing stock price. In the past two years alone, he’s exercised options worth more than $60 million. FedEx has not clarified if the company’s variable compensation changes will affect Smith’s outstanding, exercisable options or if FedEx will suspend option grants for 2009.

“FedEx workers have seen their wages stagnate, their health care costs go up and their retirement benefits go down or go away entirely while FedEx has pocket ed millions in profits in good times,” said Teamsters Vice President At Large and Package Division Director Ken Hall. “Many FedEx workers already see Teamster representation as a way to secure their future and these drastic measures will convince more of the value of a Teamster contract.”

The difference in pay and compensation between management and workers is one factor leading FedEx workers to seek Teamster representation. The broken “Purple Promises” on wages and retirement benefits were the subject of a public Blue Ribbon Commission hearing on Dec. 16, jointly sponsored by the Teamsters, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and Clergy and Laity for Economic Justice/Los Angeles (CLUE LA).

Blue Ribbon Commission members U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and United Methodist Church (Los Angeles) Bishop Mary Ann Swenson heard testimony from a number of FedEx workers on their deteriorating work conditions and struggles to hold onto the middle class life.

“I could afford to retire at age 62 under the defined benefit pension plan but with the stroke of a pen, and with little warning and no input or discussion from employees, FedEx changed our retirement plans,” said Dan Forrand, a 15-year veteran aircraft maintenance technician from FedEx Express in Los Angeles.

Now, as the economy suffers and FedEx Express employees’ retirement security is in greater jeopardy, FedEx has pulled a bait and switch more drastic than even Forrand knew when he was testifying.

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BAILING OUT THE BIG THREE

(December 15, 2008, Washington, D.C.) Following are comments by Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa released December 12 regarding the ongoing so-called “bailout” of the U.S. auto industry by the U.S. Federal Government. Much is going on in Congress and the White House as the politicians try to do something helpful, but nothing that would cost them votes. Some are attacking the Labor Movement directly, especially the United Auto Workers, publicly stating that the cause of the crisis is not corporate mismanagement but Union workers’ wages and benefit packages.

A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL PRESIDENT JIM HOFFA: WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO LEND MONEY TO THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS

What’s ailing the Auto Industry in the United States is the same as what’s ailing the Auto Industry in China, Japan, Europe and South America.

Carmakers around the world are struggling through the worst slump in 40 years. Sales of cars by Toyota and Honda fell more over the last year than did sales of cars by Ford.

For America’s Big Three, the recent bad news turned catastrophic last month. In November, only 236,000 North American-made cars were sold. That is a shocking 40 percent drop from the number of cars sold in November 2007. No industry can afford a 40 percent sales decline.

Sure, mistakes were made. But the Big Three’s dire straits right now are a result of frozen credit markets and a global recession.

Fortunately, many in Congress recognize that it’s crucial to rescue the U.S. Auto Industry. The House has approved a Bill negotiated with the White House that would use existing money for a short-term loan and restructuring of the troubled carmakers. 

There are 1.59 million people employed by the Big Three, their parts suppliers and dealerships. As many as 5 million people depend on the Auto Industry for work, including Teamsters who haul cars, parts and supplies. Letting the domestic Auto Industry collapse would dramatically worsen a recession that’s already a year old.

BANKRUPTCY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR THE BIG THREE
It would be disastrous to allow even one of the Big Three to seek bankruptcy protection. That would cause the failure of hundreds of auto parts companies and dealerships. The remaining Big Two automakers, dependent on the parts and dealer networks, would go under. Securitized auto loans and their insurers would fail, whipsawing fragile credit markets.

Another consideration: GM couldn’t get financing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So do the math. Bankruptcy for one automaker means GM closes its doors. For good.

Let me repeat that: If the government didn’t lend money to the automakers, GM would close. For good.

FREE-MARKET WINGNUTS OFF BASE
There are some free-market wingnuts out there who are fine with that. We’ve all heard their arguments: “The automakers brought their problems on themselves, let them fail.” Or, “Don’t interfere with the free market.”

But they ignore the lessons of the last century. That is, America’s peace and prosperity depend on a robust manufacturing base.

We would have lost World War II if we didn’t have an Auto Industry that could produce weapons during the war. That’s why Franklin Roosevelt called Detroit the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

We would not have enjoyed record prosperity during the post-World War II era without a strong manufacturing base — and productivity gains that were shared with workers.

In recent decades, we’ve taken our eye off the ball. Instead of shoring up our manufacturing base, we’ve favored the interests of Wall Street over other sectors of the economy. Nowhere is that more evident than in the ongoing, multi-trillion dollar bailout of irresponsible financial services companies. (By the way, I don’t hear anyone complaining that the Unions brought down Lehman Brothers.)

WALL STREET FOLLIES HURTING AUTO INDUSTRY
Now, Wall Street’s follies are hurting the Auto Industry.

For those who would pull the plug on our domestic automakers, I ask them to consider that our economic competitors won’t let their auto industries vanish.

The European Commission is offering $6.3 billion in industry loans for developing greener cars.

The Swedish Government said it’s prepared to help out its automakers.

Japan already subsidizes its auto industry by keeping the yen artificially low.

China’s automakers, which are owned or controlled by the Government, get research grants and loans from state-owned banks. They’re asking the Government for emergency help in the form of tax relief, lower gas prices and grants.

As our own Congress works out a deal to keep the Big Three solvent, I hope they will take to heart Franklin Roosevelt’s words:

"The strength of this nation shall not be diluted by the failure of the Government to protect the economic well-being of its citizens."

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TEAMSTERS HAIL PASSAGE OF PENSION RELIEF BILL
UNION SAYS EXTENSION OF CONTRIBUTION DEADLINES WILL HELP PREVENT LAYOFFS, BENEFIT CUTBACKS

(December 12, 2008, Washington, D.C.) The Teamsters today commended Congress for providing relief to multiemployer pensions that have been hit hard by the financial crisis. The House and Senate on Thursday unanimously passed the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 7327), which directly helps Teamsters pension funds.

Under the Bill, multiemployer pension plans hurt by falling stock prices will be given additional time to meet funding targets. This means the plans won’t have to make sudden big increases in their payments as required under the law known as the Pension Protection Act of 2006. As a result, those plans won’t have to cut benefits for retirees and employers won’t have to lay off workers in order to fund the plans.

The Teamsters strongly supported the Bill as part of a coalition of unions, companies and trade groups.

“Passing this Bill protects the retirement security of Teamsters who are working and those who have retired,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “I commend the House and the Senate for taking swift action.”

“This bill gives multiemployer pension funds the time they need to adjust to market conditions,” Hoffa said. “It also helps ensure the survival of contributing employers by allowing collective bargaining parties to determine what levels of contribution are affordable.”
“Congress did the right thing by calling for shared sacrifice by employers and employees,” Hoffa said.

More than 1,500 multiemployer defined benefit plans currently provide benefits for 10 million participants.

President Bush is expected to sign the Bill.

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HOFFA ON OBAMA & THE FUTURE
THE KIND OF CHANGE THAT WORKING FAMILIES BELIEVE IN

IBT General President James P. Hoffa during the recent Presidential campaign with then-candidate U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama. Now President-Elect, Obama will be sworn-in officially on January 20, 2009.

(November 17, 2008) IBT General President James P. Hoffa has commented in depth about the outlook for the Teamsters Union now that Barack Obama has been elected our nation’s Chief Executive. President-Elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office on January 20, 2009. In the meantime, he is building his White House staff and his Cabinet. President Hoffa’s comments were printed on the IBT Website on November 14. They are reprinted below.

TEAMSTER MESSAGE
By JAMES P. HOFFA, IBT General President The change we worked so hard for is already starting to happen. During his Oval Office meeting with President Bush, President-Elect Barack Obama urged immediate help for the troubled auto industry. I took it as a strong sign that our new President cares — a great deal — about jobs.

That’s why the Teamsters put more boots on the ground to elect Obama than we ever have. We were convinced that Obama understands the fundamental importance of good jobs. We looked at his modest background, his belief in collective action and his pro-worker record. We concluded that he’s one of us.

We were one of the first Unions to endorse Obama for President in February. Since then, more than 40,000 Teamsters volunteered to work for him. We made 1.6 million phone calls and sent more than 2.6 million direct mail pieces to our members. I personally barnstormed battleground states, and so did our General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel.

It wasn’t just the biggest mobilization effort in our history, it was the smartest. We worked hard to understand how to talk to our members about Obama. We told them how he grew up in a single-parent household, how he took out massive student loans to pay for college and law school, how he chose to become a community organizer rather than to go to Wall Street.

OUR MEMBERS LISTENED
Our members listened, and they came out to vote for him. Teamsters tend to be the demographic who weren’t supposed to vote for Obama. The facts tell a different story.

A much higher percentage of Union voters cast their ballots for Obama than did the general public — 67 percent of Union voters compared with 52 percent of the popular vote.

Union members over 65 voted for Obama by a 46-point margin. Compare that with non-union voters over 65. They voted for McCain by 8 points.

White non-college graduates who belong to a Union voted for Obama by 23 points. Among all white non-college voters, Obama lost by 18 points.

HE WILL NEED OUR HELP TO GOVERN
But if Obama won with the help of workers, he’ll need our help to govern, as well.

Many big businesses aren’t interested in getting the economy back on track by creating jobs. They’ve shown over the past 30 years that they’re more interested in rewarding shareholders by cutting jobs.
With the help of working families, Obama can create new jobs. As soon as he takes office, he can push for relief for automakers. We’ll help him. He can pressure Congress to pass a $60 billion program to rebuild our infrastructure. We’ll help him. He can give the middle-class a tax cut. We’ll help him.

We’ll need his help, too, in helping working families realize the American Dream.

We’ll also need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers bargaining power to raise their wages and achieve health care and retirement benefits.

We’ll need to stop passing trade deals that reward multinationals with giveaways and protections while allowing them to kill jobs here. We’ll need to reward companies that keep good-paying jobs in America — and to not reward those that send them overseas.

We’ll need some relief for pension funds that have been hammered by the credit crisis and stock market fall.

Change is more than something to believe in. It’s something to work for — and now the hard work is about to begin.

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GREGOIRE GETS SECOND TERM
THE IBT, JOINT COUNCIL 28, LOCAL 174, AND MANY OTHER JC-28 LOCALS WORKED HARD TO HELP THE EXCELLENT INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WIN REELECTION

At a rally during the campaign season, Washington State’s incumbent Governor Chris Gregoire shows Solidarity with fellow Democrat and Presidential candidate U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama.

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
(November 5, 2008) Incumbent Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire has won reelection to a second term as Washington State’s Chief Executive. Her victory against her well-funded ruthless mudslinging Business-backed Republican opponent was decisive.

The feisty, indomitable Governor showed admirable determination and grit during a long, frustrating campaign that featured lies, innuendos and misstatements thrown at her constantly. The stench of the Republican hatemongering anti-Gregoire smearfest will take months to dissipate totally. Her blowharding bully opponent’s total lack of respect of her as a person, as a woman, as a citizen, and as an elected State leader was shocking and disgusting.

The IBT, Joint Council 28, Local 174, and all the other Washington State-based JC-28 Locals look forward to working with Governor Gregoire for four more years on issues important to Teamsters in particular, and working families in general. She has been throughout her long and distinguished career in politics, and continues to be as the State’s top elected official, a great friend of the Teamsters.

Local 174’s leadership will have a lot to say about the Governor’s victory, and about other results in the November 4 General Election, soon. But for now, they are just going to let the Governor express her own feelings about being returned to her job by the State’s voters. She does so quite eloquently in the following official press release, which she sent out to the public today via the Internet.

PRESS RELEASE, NOVEMBER 5, 2008: GOVERNOR GREGOIRE CLAIMS VICTORY
WASHINGTON STATE – Washington voters have selected Gov. Chris Gregoire after the early results have been tallied. While there are still votes to be counted across the State, early totals show Gov. Gregoire winning with an expanding lead. National and local news organizations have called the race for Gov. Gregoire.

“Tonight the voters in Washington sent a message that they want a Governor who shares their values of providing children healthcare, protecting the environment and creating jobs,” said Gov. Gregoire. “We have run a “One Washington” campaign and tonight we are seeing the results across the State. I’m honored to be reelected.”

Gov. Gregoire is leading early in Counties across the State, from Spokane to Grays Harbor and from Whatcom to Clark. She has also increased her margins from the 2004 Election.

Gov. Gregoire closed out the election season by crisscrossing the State on an 11-day, 26-city, “Fighting for Working Families Tour.” On Election Day, Gov. Gregoire met with volunteers in both of Washington’s poll voting Counties, King and Pierce.

“I’d like to thank my family and the thousands of volunteers who have worked so hard to put us over the top,” said Gov. Gregoire. “I’d also like to thank the voters who participated in this historic election.”

Gov. Gregoire enjoyed strong grassroots support. Since the campaign began, more than 7,000 Democratic volunteers made over 2 million volunteer phone calls and knocked on almost 1,000,000 doors. In the last three weeks alone, volunteers called over 600,000 voters and knocked on 250,000 doors.

While Washington State’s results have been positive, the national results have been historic.

“This is an historic day for the entire nation,” said Gov. Gregoire. “I’m looking forward to having a partner in President Barack Obama. Congratulations to the President-elect, Vice President-elect Sen. Joe Biden, and their families.”

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
THE TEAMSTERS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH HELPING HIM GET ELECTED

This photo is from “Obama for America,” the official website of the Barack Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign.

(November 5, 2008) The dust cleared, and the winner of the November 4, 2008 Presidential Election by a landslide margin was the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, the young, black U.S. Senator from Illinois. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters had a lot to do with helping Obama achieve his history-making victory. And the Teamsters Union will be working hard with him and his Administration to help rebuild America when he takes office on January 20, 2009. Following are two official IBT statements released yesterday to the public about the election of Obama and how the Teamsters feel about it.

TEAMSTERS MASSIVE ELECTION PUSH FOR CHANGE HELPS LEAD OBAMA TO HISTORIC VICTORY
(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters, the world’s most powerful labor union, unleashed its largest election mobilization in history, helping land Barack Obama in the White House and putting worker friendly candidates in key offices at every level in the country.

"Our 1.4 million members demanded change and we marshaled our forces in unprecedented numbers for this historic election,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “There is no doubt that we made the difference. I congratulate Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden on their well-deserved victory, and our Teamster members who worked tirelessly on their behalf.”

More than 40,000 Teamsters volunteered for the union’s massive member mobilization efforts. Hoffa and General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel barnstormed key battleground states across the country on multiple trips, talking to Teamster members and motivating them to volunteer and go to the polls for Obama.

Additionally, the Teamsters’ impressive get-out-the-vote push included:

• More than 2.6 million direct mail pieces.
• More than 1.6 million phone calls.
• More than 40,000 volunteers.
• More than 1 million Teamster job sites visited.
• 54,687 Teamsters signed up for election text messaging.
• 4.5 million doors knocked as part of Change to Win.

Also, Teamsters conducted precinct walks, canvassed neighborhoods, drove voters to the polls and countless other activities. The union also incorporated new technology, like text messaging, predictive dialer phone banking, national and targeted-state interactive teleforums and microtargeting of swing voters.

"This is a great day -- a historic day," Hoffa said. "Now let's get this country unified and working for regular, middle-class Americans again. We elected a great man, but we can’t stop here because our real work starts now.”

A VICTORY FOR AMERICA: TEAMSTERS GET OUT THE VOTE FOR OBAMA
(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters Union spearheaded a massive get-out-the-vote effort on behalf of Barack Obama in the months leading up to Election Day. That effort paid off, with Obama and his running mate Joe Biden claiming a historic victory.

“I could not be more proud of the effort that the Teamsters Union and our politically active members put into this historic election,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “More than 40,000 Teamsters volunteered in this campaign, and when you look at the final numbers, there is no doubt that we made a big difference.”

Those 40,000 Teamster volunteers racked up some impressive numbers during the hard-fought campaign. More than 500,000 rank-and-file Teamsters were visited at their work sites—and many of those in swing states were paid a visit at work by Hoffa himself, or Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel, or an International Vice President.Teamster volunteers also conducted precinct walks, weekend work site visits, canvassed neighborhoods, drove voters to the polls and countless other activities.

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WHY BARACK OBAMA NOVEMBER 4TH
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO VOTE FOR OBAMA FOR UNITED STATES PRESIDENT, AND MANY REASONS TO KEEP McCAIN OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa with Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois).

(November 3, 2008) Why has the Teamsters Union endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) for President? With only a day left before the November 4 General Election, it is a good time to review the reasons. The following article consists of comments by IBT General President James P. Hoffa and the IBT Communications Department made over the past few months about not just Obama, but also about his opponent, U.S. Senator John McCain (R, Arizona). They appeared in news releases and the Teamster Magazine.

THE FUNDAMENTALS
Our next President must restore dignity and rights. Our Union has worked hard to reinvigorate the American Labor Movement, and this year we will elect a President who will join us in our battle to rebuild America. We are fighting to end policies that benefit Big Business but punish its workers. Policies like the Bush Administration’s plan to sidestep safety rules in their effort to open U.S. highways to Mexican trucks.

We want a President who will end the so-called “free trade” agreements that do nothing but give big businesses access to cheap foreign labor at the expense of the U.S. worker. In this global economy, we must help other countries push for better working conditions. By turning a blind eye to countries with lax or no labor standards, we allow U.S. companies to exploit cheap foreign labor, which benefits only their portfolios.

We want a President who wants “Made in the USA” imprints on goods to overtake “Made in China” labels. We want a President who believes in strong workers’ rights, where everyone is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. We want a President who will not just talk about change, but will come in on day one and focus on workers’ rights, fair trade agreements and universal health care. We need a President who will sign the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) into law, which would allow employees, off of company grounds, to form Unions after a majority of workers sign cards for Union Representation, and it would require companies to remain publicly neutral.

These are the changes our next President must bring to Washington to rebuild America.

WHY VOTE FOR OBAMA
On November 4 nearly 1 million Teamsters will vote for change. Add your vote to the strong voice of American workers by voting for Barack Obama — and his Vice Presidential candidate, U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware).

Obama has the courage and experience to restore the American dream for the working people of this country. He is the change America needs. We need a President and Vice President who will put the interests of workers first.

WHY VOTE AGAINST McCAIN
Sen. John McCain deserves our respect and gratitude for his service to our country. But he should not get our vote. McCain is completely out of touch with the problems faced by working families. If elected President, he will continue George Bush's policies that led to job loss, huge deficits and inflation. Though McCain served in the Military more than 25 years ago, his understanding of serious foreign policy matters is often shaky.

Looking at the problems facing our great nation, and the Presidential candidates who will inherit eight years of disastrous policies, a crisis on Wall Street and neglect of working families, one thing is clear — McCain is not the person who will right the wrongs of the Bush Administration.

McCain has demonstrated countless times that he is clueless about the economic realities in America today. Time and again he's demonstrated his disinterest in helping ordinary people, often to the benefit of his wealthy cohorts. Wealth and privilege shaped McCain's view of public policy. He believes that the rich should be rewarded, even at the expense of working Americans.

His Senate voting record — almost identical with the Bush Administration's policies — should disturb any working American. So should the dozens of lobbyist friends who advise him on his campaign. Among the many votes McCain cast at the expense of everyday working Americans were:

ANTI-WORKER AGENDA
That McCain is out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people is clear from his anti-union, anti-worker agenda. In fact, his record speaks volumes about what he thinks of unions, workers forced out on strike, workers who want to organize, and collective bargaining rights. His votes include:

McCain had government health care almost his entire life, but he doesn't want you to have it. His health care plan would leave families at the mercy of big insurance companies. Worse, he would tax your health benefits and motivate employers to eliminate benefits.

McCain is the staunchest advocate of free trade in the U.S. Senate. He voted for every disastrous free trade agreement since NAFTA. He strongly supports a trade deal with Colombia. He's a leader in the effort to open the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.

"If I were President, I would negotiate a free trade agreement with almost any country," McCain said in a speech in 1999. Last year he said he knows NAFTA was a “good idea.”

McCain's Cronies
During the 1980s, the McCains were befriended by Arizona banker Charles Keating. Keating frequently flew them to his vacation home in the Bahamas on his private jet. McCain later said he'd paid for the use of the jet, as required by ethics rules, but the receipts were never found. Between 1982 and 1987, Keating donated $112,000 to McCain's campaigns for the House and then the Senate.

McCain's relationship with Keating erupted into a major scandal in 1989. Keating and his cohorts looted Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, causing the most expensive savings and loan failure in U.S. history. Federal regulators wanted to seize control of the failed bank, but McCain intervened to try to prevent that from happening. McCain, along with four others involved in the scandal, became known as the Keating Five. He was rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee for his role in the affair.

Taxpayers ultimately bailed out the bank to the tune of $3.4 billion. In the decades since the scandal, McCain continued to side with his wealthy cronies at the expense of ordinary people.

Close Lobbyist Ties
His current campaign for President is essentially run by lobbyists with close ties to the big oil companies, Fannie Mae, UBS and Blackwater. FedEx Corp. founder and CEO Fred Smith is a close friend who McCain views as a perfect candidate for U.S. Secretary of Defense.

McCain's anti-worker bias resulted in an atrocious voting record during his 26 years in Congress.

McCain voted to give tax breaks to companies that send American jobs overseas. He voted against overtime pay, against Davis-Bacon protections, against union-only Project Labor Agreements and against extending unemployment insurance.

John Herbert Hoover McCain
McCain spent eight years in the Senate marching in lockstep with George Bush. Median household income actually fell by almost $1,000, or by 2 percent, during the Bush Administration. Only 5.6 million jobs were created during Bush's Presidency — less than a third of the jobs created by Bill Clinton in the 1990s. A million homes are now in foreclosure — more than ever in U.S. history. Gas prices have never been higher.

During the past decade, the U.S. economy turned in its worst performance since the Great Depression. Though candidate McCain now tries to distance himself from George W. Bush's mismanagement of the economy, Sen. McCain voted with the Administration 90 percent of the time. McCain said he voted with Bush 100 percent of the time on the important issues. "I — the fact is that I'm different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed," McCain said on Meet the Press on June 15, 2005. "And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement and support of President Bush."

McCain mirrors Bush in another important way: his indifference to the plight of Americans who fall victim to disaster. He voted twice against creating a commission to investigate the botched response to Hurricane Katrina — and later said he'd voted for every investigation into Katrina's aftermath.

On January 31, 2008, McCain crossed a Writers Guild of America strike line to appear on the Tonight Show. McCain will continue George W. Bush's failed economic policies. Again and again he has sided with corporate special interests instead of the middle class. This country desperately needs a new direction, and John McCain is not the man to take us there.

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2008 LEGISLATORS’ PRO-LABOR VOTING RECORDS
YOU SHOULD KNOW THE PRO-LABOR VOTING RECORDS OF THE INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist

The Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington

(October 29, 2008)  The Tuesday, November 4, 2008 General Election is almost here. In less than a week, Washington State citizens will head for the polls — that is, those who haven’t already voted by absentee ballot. Of course, most of the attention in our State has been focused on the extremely crucial U.S. Presidential and Washington Governor’s contests.

But there are many other important races in Washington State, too. Many of them are in the Legislature. If you happen to live in a Legislative District featured an incumbent State Senator or State Representative, you ought to you know their voting records as regards issues of concern to Organized Labor.

The Washington State Labor Council carefully tabulates the legislators’ votes on Labor issues throughout the Legislative Sessions, and publishes them at year’s end. The WSLC’s 2008 Labor Voting Records have recently been released. You can have a look at them by using the following links:

ENDORSEMENTS OF LOCAL 174 & JC-28
In case you have forgotten or are unaware, below are printed the names of the Washington State Legislature candidates endorsed by Local 174 and Joint Council 28 for November 4. The incumbents are identified by asterisks, and their records appear in the 2008 WSLC Vote Tally referred to above.

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OBAMA-GREGOIRE NOVEMBER 4th
JOINT COUNCIL 28 LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR OWEN LINCH URGES ALL JC-28 MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND CHRIS GREGOIRE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION

By OWEN LINCH, Joint Council 28 Legislative Director
(October 27, 2008)  I have been a Teamster for over 35 years and I am normally pretty laid back but I have to tell you, I get mad as hell when I see how close the races are for President and for Governor. Voters have either not been paying attention or they just plain don’t get it. I don’t know how anyone can consider voting for either McCain or Rossi.

Joint Council 28 Legislative Director Owen Linch, third from the left, at a recent bill signing ceremony with Washington State's Governor Chris Gregoire and others in her Olympia office.

McCain has supported and voted with-and-for the failed Bush Administrative Policies over 90% of the time. These are the same policies that have laid waste to our Country’s world-standing and reputation. They have squandered our financial future and the future of our children and their children. These are the same people who orchestrated a war based on deception and lies that have cost tens of thousands of American lives and/or injuries.

Now let me talk about Chris Gregoire. She is a hell of a lot better Governor than her Campaign would have you believe — and that’s a problem. A problem that we are currently trying to address with her Campaign. If she loses her job because people don’t know the true difference between her and Rossi, that is unfortunate for her — but we will be the real losers. You will have Rossi appointing Supreme Court Justices. Gerry Alexander has to retire during the term of the next Governor. Rossi will replace all of the Department heads with people who don’t give a damn for our Members, or workers in general. The Public Employment Relations Commission will start to look and act like the Bush National Labor Relations Board. And you can forget about Rossi ever signing any worker-friendly legislation — because it just won’t happen. Do you think the AGC is supporting Rossi in order to do something good for our Construction Members? If Rossi wins, our prevailing wage laws are up for grabs.

If you think these things don’t matter, you should talk to people from Arizona, Oklahoma, or even Idaho, where they work for practically nothing and have absolutely no protection from their State Government. We need to do everything possible to elect Barack Obama and Christine Gregoire. And don’t kid yourself, the people running the Republican’s Campaigns are not going to let the truth stand in their way of electing their candidates. 

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

SPECIFICS: WHY VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA?
No one in our State or in the Nation, for that matter, should underestimate the importance of the upcoming November 4 General Election. We are going to elect a new President — something we have needed for almost eight years. I am confident that Barack Obama will carry our State and the Nation in becoming our next President. We have seen for the last eight years what electing the wrong President can do to our Nation.

Over 4,000 American Service men and women have been killed, and more than 30,000 have been wounded in the Iraq War — a war that was orchestrated by deception and lies. The loss of our global reputation and financial security are all due to a relatively small number of voters in each State simply marking the wrong box.

We cannot afford another four years of the Bush policies that would further reduce our position in the World.
 
Please support Barack Obama. 

DETAILS: WHY VOTE FOR CHRIS GREGOIRE?
The most important race in our State, however, is that of our Governor. Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28 has endorsed Christine Gregoire and hopes that every member not only vote for her but that they also recommend her to their friends and family. Realizing that we have all heard so many negative and/or conflicting campaign ads at this point, I would like just to list a few of the reasons that the Joint Council so strongly supports Christine Gregoire for Governor.
  

Governor Chris Gregoire

The following items, I believe, demonstrate to the reader a broad cross section of important issues.

(These comments directed at all members of JC-28 Local Unions by Owen, also were printed in a different format in the August-October quarterly issue of the JC-28 Washington Teamster newspaper.)

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PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 4th
BARACK OBAMA ’08 — CHRISTINE GREGOIRE FOR GOVERNOR — ‘YES’ ON PROPOSITION 1

By RICK HICKS, Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer

Local 174 Secretary- Treasurer Rick Hicks

(October 18, 2008) We are at a crossroads in our Country when it comes to “Labor” and the “Middle Class.” As a Nation we are faced with political choices that will greatly impact many different areas affecting workers — not just Union Workers but all workers in the United States and around the globe.

On November 4th — or sooner if you are an absentee voter — you will be asked to cast your vote for the next President of our Nation, for the Governor of Washington State, for National Congressional Senators and House Representatives, and for State Legislative Senators and House Representatives.

In addition, there will be a number of Initiatives and Propositions to vote on. (For a complete rundown on the endorsements from your Local Union and the Joint Council see the Endorsements below.)

Each of these areas is vastly important but I would like to touch on three in particular.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE
The first and most important is the Presidential Race. At no other point in my lifetime can I recall a more important choice that must be made. Make the wrong choice and the consequences to all of us are dire.
 
Once you cut through all the dirty politics and allegations from both Campaigns, Barack Obama clearly emerges as the choice for Working People and the Middle Class.

Despite the false charges, most if not all of you will see a tax reduction.

Obama’s position on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) alone should be reason enough to vote for him. Imagine the power Unions would have once again when it comes to national as well as local politics. Organizing would be at a record high and all politicians would once again take us seriously.

He will be a President that would for the first time in a long time advocate for workers and against the anti-union/anti-worker corporate greed that has destroyed the Middle Class.

The fear-mongering of the McCain Camp is a continuation of George Bush’s Mantra — scare you into voting for the wrong guy.

WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR RACE

The second area of focus is the choice for our State’s top Executive. I will tell you without question Christine Gregoire has been the best Governor for working people this State has ever elected. Governor Gregoire has consistently led the way for Family Wage Jobs and Worker’s Rights.

It is mind-boggling to me that this election is not over already. Dino Rossi’s Campaign also subscribes to the same divisive Republican tactics McCain is using — repeating ad after ad ripe with misinformation, distorted truths and even outright lies.

Rossi is spending $15 million to win this election — so who do you think he will reward if he were to win? I promise you it will not be Working Class People that he will reward.

Governor Gregoire has established herself as a proven leader and at a time when we are facing tremendous economic uncertainty, she deserves the chance to continue to lead.

PROPOSITION 1
The final area I would ask you to consider is Proposition 1. Although I have had my own issues with Sound Transit, this is a Proposition we need to support, especially those of you in the Construction Industry.
 
This Proposition, if passed, will create hundreds of jobs and put our members back to work.

PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 4TH
I appreciate your consideration in all these areas — but more importantly, I appreciate you taking part in the process.

Please Vote — Obama ’08, Gregoire for Governor, and “YES” on Proposition 1!!!
 

IBT ON FINANCIAL BAILOUT
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRESIDENT JIM HOFFA ON BEHALF OF TEAMSTERS UNION; LETTER SENT BY HOFFA TO KEY LAWMAKERS TO PROTECT WORKING AMERICANS

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
(September 27, 2008) Our Nation is still mulling over results of the first Presidential debate last night between Democratic U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Republican U.S. Senator John McCain in Mississippi. It was interesting. Two more Presidential debates and a Vice Presidential debate are still to come as November 4’s General Election nears.

IBT General President Jim Hoffa

During the first Presidential debate the Teamster-endorsed Obama labored mightily but unsuccessfully to engage in real discussion with McCain — especially about the present financial woes facing Main Street Middle Class America. The grumpy multi-millionaire GOP nominee with approximately 13 cars and 11 homes — he isn’t sure exactly how many — disdainfully ignored almost everything Obama said and just repeated his and Bush’s Mantra. That Mantra, so familiar and so often belched out robotically in rehearsed Talking Points by Bush-McCain minions, is — the solution to virtually all money-related matters is mollycoddling Wall Street, giving more tax cuts to the rich, and freezing or cutting back on all Federal Government spending on most programs that aid the non-rich.

McCain failed to answer Obama’s well-constructed criticisms of Bush-McCain policies in a peculiar wimpy way, given McCain’s blatantly projected macho hero persona. Oddly he petulantly, insultingly refused to even look at Obama for 90 minutes, instead staring with a frown and a clenched jaw at his podium — while Obama with lively, angry eyes glared at McCain’s left ear while speaking to him.

Obama tried to converse with McCain about many things — including the Economy, Homeland Defense, Gas Prices, Job Losses, Companies Exporting Good American Jobs Overseas, the Healthcare Crisis, the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, Iran, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, China, Russia, and possible ways to end America’s dependence on Arab Oil. Unfortunately McCain remained mum on these vital issues all night — except for occasionally warning that terrorists are hiding everywhere and would pounce on the U.S. quickly should the voters remove the experienced Bush-McCain Republican strategists who have been and are still in charge of our war tactics and replace them with rookie Democrats. McCain's concretized mental demeanor, coupled with physical stiffness and too much makeup, had the ironic result of making him look mummified instead of mavericky.

Presidential debating aside, the U.S. and the World are still reeling from the recent near-collapse of America’s Economic System. Everyone is waiting to see how Congressional infighting plays out as the U.S. Senate and U.S. House continue deliberating the Republican President George W. Bush Administration’s proposed public-funded $700 billion Bailout Plan to “solve” the banking and credit mess the Bush Team largely created.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has weighed in forcefully in Washington, D.C., letting everyone know where it stands on how this economic disaster will be managed by the Federal Government. Below are the official statement on this subject on behalf of the Teamsters Union by General President Jim Hoffa, and other information you might want to access via the links provided.

IBT STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT HOFFA

(September 25, 2008) “Congress has rejected George Bush’s proposal to bail out Wall Street without any oversight and without any protections for homeowners, taxpayers and retirees. 

“According to preliminary news reports, lawmakers are working on a different plan that would protect taxpayers and limit compensation for executives who participate in the bailout. The plan would give the government an equity stake in the companies who seek financial support. I strongly support those measures.

“I have written to Sen. Chris Dodd, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and to Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. I urged these two key lawmakers to include protections for workers’ pensions, which have been hurt by the economic crisis.

“As I stated in the letter, the failure and weakening of major financial institutions in the last weeks and months has the potential to destroy the foundation of many pension funds.

“I therefore urged Congress to give multi-employer funds an extension to meet pension funding requirements. I also recommended that a worker representative be placed on any oversight board to guard the interests of ordinary Americans.”

FURTHER DETAILS
You can read the letter that President Hoffa wrote to U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and U.S. Representative Barney Frank here:

WALL STREET JOURNAL COVERAGE
Also, you can read more about the Bailout situation here: Wall Street Journal article.

CHANGE TO WIN POSITION
You might want to read the Change to Win input on this important evolving issue. As part of the CTW Coalition the Teamsters Union endorses the Change to Win Leadership Council’s statement of principle on the Treasury Department’s Bailout plan.

Change to Win is a 6,000,000-member partnership of seven Unions founded in 2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st Century Economy. Change to Win is committed to restoring the American Dream for a new generation of workers — wages that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future.

The seven affiliated Unions are the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and the United Farm Workers of America.

Here is that statement:

No Bailout Without Adequate Protections For Working Families
(September 23, 2008) WASHINGTON, D.C. — “For most working families, the economy has been in a meltdown for quite some time: they have seen their jobs outsourced, their wages decline, their benefits disappear, their homes foreclosed and the American Dream becoming more remote.

“Now, the Bush Administration wants us to pick up the tab to bail out Wall Street, with no strings attached. Congress should not give the Administration a blank check. It needs to structure a bailout plan that will actually work to stabilize the financial sector without leaving taxpayers holding the bag. And it needs to provide relief to the real victims of this crisis — the working families whose homes are now at risk of foreclosure.

“Accordingly, Change to Win believes that the following principles must govern any bailout plan, and that Senator Dodd’s proposal provides a good starting point.

“Taxpayer money; taxpayer accountability. No plan should give the Treasury Secretary unfettered discretion or unduly insulate Treasury’s implementation from accountability to the courts and Congress. Lawmakers should create an independent oversight board that includes nongovernmental representatives, with the authority to review and approve the Treasury Secretary’s decisions and to create rules that will prohibit gaming of the bailout. Some details should be written into the law; for example, the mechanism by which troubled assets purchased by Treasury will be priced should be specified, and regulations should be required to be issued by a date certain, with fast track rules for consideration by the Congress.

“Taxpayers share in the upside. If a firm wants the benefit of being able to unload bad debt onto the federal treasury, then taxpayers should gain a proportional equity interest in that firm. This will ensure that if the bailout works and the firms become profitable, taxpayers, not simply bankers, benefit from the upside, and the treasury can recoup some of its losses.

“Prevent this from happening again. No bailout should go forward without a comprehensive, regulatory overhaul of the entire financial system, including revised capital requirements, leverage limits, increased transparency, and limits on compensation schemes. Hedge funds and private equity firms should not be eligible to participate in the bailout and should be subject to meaningful regulation.

“Curb excessive CEO pay. Wall Street executives — especially those who brought us this mess — shouldn't be pocketing millions while asking taxpayers to bail them out. Any firm that applies for relief must agree to limit the total compensation of all executives.

“Aid the victims, not just the predators. No bail out of the banks can take place without a freeze on foreclosures and changes to allow bankruptcy courts to require banks to renegotiate the terms of bad mortgages so that people can stay in their homes.

“Protect pension plans. Pension plans have significant assets invested in the financial sector, and may have incurred large losses as a result of the meltdown. Funding rules should be modified to give plans adequate time to make up funding shortfalls tied to the mortgage meltdown. In addition, Congress should ensure the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has sufficient funds to meet any increased obligations.

“Invest in the real economy. This bailout should not be used as yet another excuse not to make critical investments in our future. A major public investment — in developing new energy and conservation, rebuilding schools and infrastructure, extending unemployment and food stamps, and helping states avoid crippling cuts in police and health services — is vital to get the real economy moving and put people back to work. There should be no bailout without an agreement to pass a stimulus package before adjournment.”

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PRESIDENTIAL BATTLE HEATS UP
FOUR VIEWS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THAT ARE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE OF THE CAMPAIGN

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist

Presidential Candidate U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) is in a tough spot. He is running against present GOP President George W’s economic blunders while proposing to reverse and overcome Bush’s economic incompetence by continuing Bush’s financial strategy for four more years. That, obviously, is a philosophical and practical dilemma for McCain of Bushian proportions. McCain has met his economic enemy and it is himself.

(September 18, 2008) With the massive financial woes that have beset the United States during the past week, the soap opera silliness has thankfully been driven out of the Presidential campaign. People don’t care about lipstick on a pig anymore. They are worrying about their jobs, savings, and retirement income. They want to really hear what Barack Obama and John McCain would do as President to clean up the economic mess.

The sparring and posturing of the Conventions has ended, there are only a few weeks left before the November 4, 2008 General Election, and the Race to the White House is nearing its final lap. The Teamsters, and all of Organized Labor, are deeply involved in the campaign — at the important but usually unnoticed grassroots background level.

Local 174 Shop Stewards, Activists, Officers and Staff have been working hard for many weeks helping the IBT and the Union Movement’s near-universal choice for President, Obama. Local 174 volunteers have been hitting the road in the field working on their own or with IBT DRIVE Representatives, getting 174 unregistered members registered to vote on November 4 — or just discussing the issues and reminding already-registered members to actually get out and cast their votes.

Every single vote for Obama is crucial, all over the country. The Presidential Race is very close, and a strong turnout of Teamsters and other Labor Union members across the U.S. could be the deciding factor that wins the election for Obama.

It took the past week’s huge collapse of the stock market and the banking system, with the Bush Administration’s lame patchwork temporary solution of bailing out private companies with taxpayer dollars, to get the media focus onto the unsexy but vital issue of the economy. As if Fate has intervened, a final horrible chapter is being written in the Book of George W. Bush. Another disastrous hurricane season showed FEMA is still unprepared and Bush like before fiddled from a distance while citizens drowned. Bush has stopped bragging about the “Surge,” which means things are starting to go badly in Iraq. And then the financial walls came tumbling down, and the only fellow who said nothing, for a week, was you guessed it, Bush. He is the lamest of lame ducks.

The Republican Party troops from McCain on down are quietly trying to act like Bush does not exist. To his former GOP sheepish worshippers Bush has become a Harry Potterish “he who must not be named.” But Democratic Party commentators from Obama on down are very vocal about Bush and his entire eight-year reign, and are not at all averse to naming him.

Here are some comments to consider that were made recently by four of the key Democratic Party spokespersons. They have impact now, at a time when the Democrats are fighting back with increasing success against the very familiar hate and smear tactics of the Republican campaign gurus. They are U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illlinois), U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware), Speaker of the House U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-California), and U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts).

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Candidate U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)

America was built by its laborers, but today our workers are struggling just to get by in an economy that no longer works for them. That's why we can't afford four more years of the failed George Bush economic policies — policies that Senator McCain has proudly embraced and promises to continue.

It's time we had a President who will stand up for working men and women by building an economy that rewards not just wealth, but work and the workers who create it. It's time you had a partner in the White House who knows that the struggles facing working families can't be solved by spending billions of dollars on more tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs, and that hardworking families need immediate relief.

That's why, as President, I'll end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and give them to companies that create good-paying jobs here at home, and while Senator McCain is proposing $4 billion in new tax breaks for oil companies that are making record profits, I'll put a $1,000 tax cut into the pockets of 95% of workers and their families.

It's time you had a President who honors Organized Labor — who's walked on picket lines; who doesn't choke on the word "Union"; who lets our Unions do what they do best and organize our workers; and who will finally make the Employee Free Choice Act the law of the land.

That is the choice in this election. We can choose to remain on the path that has abandoned workers and gotten our economy in so much trouble, or we can reclaim the idea that in America, opportunity is open to anyone who's willing to work for it.

I've spent my entire career fighting for working men and women. And so has my running mate, Joe Biden, a man whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class. With him by my side, I am confident that we can take this country in a new direction and restore that fair shot at your dreams that is at the core of what Joe Biden and I stand for, and what America stands for as a nation.

JOE BIDEN

Vice Presidential Candidate U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)

These are no ordinary times. This is no ordinary election. After eight years of John McCain supporting George Bush's failed policies, you can feel the American Dream slipping away. Wages are shrinking. Groceries, health care, and filling up your car all cost more than ever. With every fiber of my being I know we cannot as a nation stand for four more years of this.

Barack Obama is poised for a historic and transcendent Presidency that will unite this country and lead us to a better future. ...

Democrats can and will bring the change we need. During the last few months, we have tried to expand children's health care, control the housing crisis, and lower gas prices. We've been trying and trying to end the mistakes in Iraq and repair America's tattered reputation around the globe.

Every step of the way, we've been blocked by Republicans who seem wholly uninterested in change. In fact, with 92 filibusters in the last two years, they have already set an all-time record for a single Congress. They've launched 12 filibusters just in the last two months (August and September, 2008)!

Enough is enough.

The bottom line is that we can bring the change we've all been waiting for. But only if we all roll up our sleeves and deliver that filibuster-proof majority that can deliver for Barack and me during every single fight. …

I can't wait to help Barack Obama turn this country around. But I know that we are going to need that filibuster-proof Senate majority supporting our progressive agenda every step of the way. It's the only way we'll deliver on bringing health care to everyone who needs it or getting serious about global warming.

There is a mountain of work to be done between now and Election Day. We are already in the final stretch of this monumental, nationwide campaign. We need you to add your voice to our nationwide wave of activism so that we can be ready for everything coming our way.

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-California)

Denial is not an Economic Recovery Plan. In the midst of a dire economic situation, President Bush … characterized recent market developments as an “adjustment” that can be painful for investors and employees of the firms, while Senator McCain said the “fundamentals of our economy are strong.” President Bush, Senator McCain, and their Republican Party are out of touch and apparently ill-equipped to get our economy back on track.

Under the leadership of President Bush, Senator McCain and the Republican Congress, Wall Street gamed the system and American families and businesses paid the price. (And) as reports of major financial institutions faltering were piling up, Americans were left looking for answers.

Eight years of weakened regulation of our nation's financial system — including a failure to regulate risky, and often predatory, lending practices — by the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress have led us to this point, and could further erode our nation's economic health. America needs leadership going forward that understands the depth of the problem.

Senator John McCain's public statements don't offer much confidence:

On September 15, 2008, he said, "I believe, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong..." Sen. McCain admitted on December 18, 2007, that the economy isn't his strong suit: "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should... I've got Greenspan's book."

Perhaps Sen. McCain should have watched former Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, on Sunday, September 14, 2008's ABC News This Week: (Greenspan said) "I can't believe we could have a once-in-a-century type of financial crisis without a significant impact on the real economy globally, and I think that indeed is what is in the process of occurring."

Millions of Americans are feeling the pain of eight years of disastrous economic policies — job losses, foreclosed homes, reduced home values, eroded pensions, high gas prices and compromised financial futures.

Today, more than 9 million Americans are without work and millions more are struggling with the high cost of gas, health care and groceries, yet John McCain told Americans who are out of work or who just lost their jobs that another four years of the same failed Bush economic policies are the right solution for them and for America.

This year, the Democratic-led Congress enacted the largest reform to the housing finance system in a generation — a key to helping our economy recover. We also passed a bipartisan economic stimulus package earlier this year and the House will soon take up another economic package that will create jobs and address some of the most immediate consequences of the Administration's serious mismanagement of our economy.

Democrats are ready to do the hard work of helping address the pain of everyday Americans and begin to stabilize and grow this economy again.

JOHN KERRY

U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts)

This is what I learned in 2004. When Republicans go on the attack with their lies and innuendo, Democrats need to hit them back twice as hard. That is why I am asking you to join thousands and thousands of Democrats across the country to help ... fight back against the Swiftboating that has already begun against our Senate candidates.

Republicans know we're poised to put Barack Obama in the White House. They know we have a real shot to achieve a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate majority. That is why GOP interest groups have spent over $5 million going after Colorado Democrat Mark Udall. Seven shadowy independent groups are working to tear down Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire.

It won't work this time, folks. With mere weeks until the election, Democrats are strongly competitive in at least eleven battleground states and we must give our candidates the necessary resources to ensure their message of change is heard over the din of constant GOP attacks. ...

At (the) Republican Convention, you saw on national TV the nastiness, the anger and the smears that our Democratic Senate candidates have been dealing with for months.

And it will only get worse. One anti-Democratic group is planning on spending $50 million to peddle partisan nonsense before Election Day.

One of the group's spokesmen recently said, "Our basic objective is ... we want to keep enough people in the Senate that we can sustain a filibuster."

That's no surprise considering that these Republican Senators have filibustered more bills than any Congress in history. Now, Republicans are hoping two months of distortions will cover up their failures and keep them in power. Only this time, the schoolyard bully act won't work. ...

We are outworking them. Outmaneuvering them. And the American people overwhelmingly favor Democrats on issue after issue. The only thing standing in the way of the change we need is a wave of constant partisan attacks funded by GOP special interest money. This election is too important to allow the same tired politics of the past to work once more. ... Today, we stand on the brink of the greatest opportunity of our generation to move this country forward. With Barack Obama in the White House and a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate majority, we can finally make progress on universal health care, fighting global warming, fixing our schools and all the other pressing issues that have been left to fester for eight years.

But that's not all. This election is a chance for America to stand united and tell the merchants of fear and division: you don't decide who loves this country; you don't decide who is a patriot; you don't decide whose service counts and whose doesn't. This is the chance to take America back.

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TEAMSTERS PRAISE U.S. HOUSE VOTE TO BAN UNSAFE MEXICAN TRUCKS
MEMBERS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO STOP CROSS-BORDER TRUCKING PILOT PROGRAM

U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon State is a great friend of the Teamsters Union. Congressman DeFazio, who is a Democrat, was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1986. He is dean of the Oregon U.S. House delegation, and represents Southwest Oregon from Corvallis in the north, down to the California border — from the West Coast to the Cascade Mountains. The ten-term member sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as Chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. He also serves on the Aviation and Railroad Subcommittees, and the House Committee on Homeland Security where he is on the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. Finally, DeFazio serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, where he is a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
(September 12, 2008) In the midst of the massive and much-called for news coverage of the commemoration of the Terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 on the United States, an important item was not mentioned much if at all nationally.

But a news release about it was printed on the IBT Website, as it was of great importance to the Teamsters. It was the long-awaited vote in the United States House of Representatives on the issue of unsafe Mexican trucks on American highways. This time, a vote in Congress went overwhelmingly in favor of the IBT and the entire Labor Movement.

IBT TELLS THE STORY
Here is the press release which was sent out by the IBT from its Washington, D.C., Headquarters on September 9:

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa commended the 395 members of Congress who voted today to close the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.

The House of Representatives passed a bill to end the cross-border trucking program by a vote of 395-18. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., also prohibits the transportation secretary from granting authority to any Mexican trucks beyond the commercial zone, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The bill passed committee in July, unanimously by a voice vote.

“This bill makes it very clear that Congress wants the border closed,” Hoffa said. “This time, the Bush Administration can’t pretend it doesn’t understand what Congress means.”

Congress passed a law last year that cut off funds for opening the border. The Bush Administration claimed the law was ambiguous and kept the border open. The Teamsters challenged the Bush Administration in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and is awaiting a decision.

“We know the Bush Administration can’t guarantee that trucks and drivers from Mexico are safe,” Hoffa said. “We know there aren’t any certified drug testing labs in Mexico. We know the database for Mexican driver traffic violations is inadequate. We know Mexico doesn’t enforce hours-of-service violations.”

Despite the bipartisan opposition to opening the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico, the Transportation Department said it will extend the program for another two years.

The Transportation Department has shown it is incapable of reviewing the safety records of Mexican carriers that want to participate in the pilot program. The agency approved Trinity Enterprises as a participant, though its own database indicated the company had more than 1,200 safety violations, or about 100 per truck.

SUPPORT OBAMA & GREGOIRE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THE PARTY OF CHANGE — AND THEY HAVE BEEN ENDORSED WHOLEHEARTEDLY BY THE TEAMSTERS UNION

Governor Gregoire continues to run a strong and effective campaign despite the lies and semi-truths directed her way. A fighter, a friend of the Teamsters and all workers, she greatly deserves a second term.

The GOP swiftboat hate ads are flying hot and heavy, and the public will have to decide who is truly for Change. The Teamsters know the true Change candidates are Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
(September 10, 2008) The November 4, 2008 General Election is approaching fast. Please vote. And consider voting for the two main candidates who will be on the ballot here in Washington State — Barack Obama for President and Chris Gregoire for Governor. They of course are Democrats, and the Democratic Party is the Party of Change. Change from nearly eight years of devastating anti-worker Republican policies in both the U.S. and Washington State.

The recently concluded Democratic and Republican National Conventions have dramatically brought to the forefront the plight of our Nation’s economic and social standards. The American Voters should be, more than ever, motivated to become active participants and to elect not only a President who will turn our Nation away from the economic and social chaos, but guide us on a road to recovery.

GOP HAS MADE HATE ADS AN ART FORM
By now everyone has seen the Republican hate ads against both Obama and Gregoire. They come hot, heavy and more hateful every day as General Election Day nears. Unfortunately, hate has become the chief tactic of Republican campaigning at all levels, and it is very effective.

Please have a look at some data which counters some of the lies and distortions in the Republican anti-Obama and anti-Gregoire swiftboat advertising. First off, please consider some real facts and figures about Barack Obama by following these two links.

And now, courtesy of the Washington State Labor Council, check out the two following summations of the true records of both Chris Gregoire and her GOP opponent.

IT WOULD BE SILLY TO ELECT OBAMA’S OPPONENT
With the accurate data in mind, remember that the sorry state of our national economy was caused by the failed policies of Republican President George W. Bush during his two disastrous terms, covering 2000-2008.

It is preposterous to consider putting the Republicans back in power again, but that could happen if not enough people get out and vote for the Teamsters’ choice for the next President, the Democratic U.S. Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.

IT WOULD ALSO BE SILLY TO ELECT GREGOIRE’S OPPONENT
And in Washington State, the Teamsters could not have a better friend than Democratic incumbent Governor Chris Gregoire, who is very deserving of a second term. During her first term Governor Gregoire supported business interests, but has also at the same time fought for workers on issues such as law enforcement, education, health care and new jobs.

She won’t be able to continue her pro-family, pro-union leadership unless her union friends in Local 174 and the rest of the Labor Movement in our State get out and vote for her on November 4.

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UNSAFE MEXICAN TRUCKS
TEAMSTERS URGE HOUSE TO PASS BILL BANNING THEM

The IBT’s fight against unsafe Mexican trucks on U.S. highways continues. Teamster General President Jim Hoffa will keep speaking up publicly for proper legislation until it becomes the law of the land.

(September 9, 2008) Washington, D.C. – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said he hopes Congress will vote today to close the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico. Last year, Congress voted overwhelmingly to ban the cross-border trucking pilot program, but the Bush Administration ignored the law. Even though there is strong bipartisan support in Congress for closing the border, the Transportation Department announced it is extending the program for another two years.

“There are many, many unanswered questions about the safety of Mexican trucks and their drivers,” Hoffa said. “It’s flat-out reckless to let them drive on our highways and endanger American families.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., ends the pilot program. It also prohibits the transportation secretary from granting authority to any Mexican trucks beyond the commercial zone, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The bill passed committee in July, unanimously by a voice vote.

The Teamsters oppose the pilot program because Mexican trucks and drivers do not have to meet the same safety standards as their American counterparts. There are no certified drug testing labs in Mexico. The database for Mexican driver traffic violations is inadequate. Mexico doesn’t enforce hours-of-service regulations.

The Transportation Department has also shown it is incapable of reviewing the safety records of Mexican carriers that want to participate in the pilot program. The agency approved Trinity Enterprises as a participant, though its own database indicated the company had more than 1,200 safety violations.

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LABOR DAY CELEBRATING
THERE ARE THREE FREE NEARBY UNION PICNICS YOU CAN ATTEND, BUT YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE HOLIDAY’S HISTORIC MEANING

This historical photo from the Library of Congress pictorial vault shows how the Labor Day Holiday was celebrated in the early years. Says the Library, it was taken at a Labor Day Parade down Main Street in Buffalo, New York, circa 1900. But the action had started years prior to it. On September 5, 1882, some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City to participate in America's first Labor Day Parade. After marching from City Hall to Union Square the workers and their families gathered in Reservoir Park for a picnic, concert, and speeches.

By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
(August 28, 2008) Are you looking for something to do on Labor Day, Monday, September 1? In our so-called modern nation, most Union families just have a picnic, watch some sports on TV, and enjoy a day off from work. But in earlier days, the Labor Day Holiday had much deeper meaning to Union folks.

Nothing is wrong with just cooling off and taking it easy on Labor Day. But it is an important day for the Labor Movement, and considering its history is not a bad idea.

THREE UNION PICNICS YOU CAN ATTEND
If you just want to attend a Union sponsored picnic, there are three in Local 174’s membership’s locale that are available to attend. The Washington State Labor Council and regional Labor Councils in the 174 area are involved in these nearby ones — and of course there are others elsewhere across the State, too.

On the agenda at all of the three picnics will be all or most of these things: food, soft drinks, events and games for kids of all ages, facepainting, clowns, camaraderie, music, raffles for prizes, and visiting with politicians who show up with the November 4 General Election just around the corner. Here thanks to the WSLC Website are the addresses of the three Labor Day Labor Picnics and some information about them:

WANT TO CHECK OUT LABOR DAY’S HISTORY?
Following are facts about and the story of Labor Day as reported on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Website. Read on:

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the Labor Movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day
More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the Holiday for Workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, General Secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the Holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the Secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the Holiday in 1882 while serving as Secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day
The first Labor Day Holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day Holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the Holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "Workingmen's Holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of Labor Organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation
Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation.

The first state bill was introduced into the New York Legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day Holiday by legislative enactment.

By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the Holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an Act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal Holiday in the District of Columbia and the Territories.

A Nationwide Holiday
The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the Holiday — a Street Parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and Labor Organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.

Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the Holiday. Still later, by a Resolution of the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the Labor Movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading Union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of Labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American Worker.

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REGISTER! VOTE! PARTICIPATE!
JC-28 PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS

By MICHAEL GONZALES, Local 174 Business Agent and Political Action Director

(August 6, 2008) COMING SOON, THE AUGUST 19 PRIMARY ELECTION. What a year for politics 2008 is in Washington State. Our State has been identified as a battleground contest in the upcoming Presidential Election; we will have a Governor’s race which will probably go down in history as one of the most expensive ever; and also we have a U.S. House of Representatives campaign between Darcy Burner (D) and Dave Reichert (R) for the 8th Congressional District that will be watched on a national scale.

Our Local Union has a plan to help Labor candidates win in this very important year. We held a Shop Stewards and Activists Training on Saturday, June 28th to train our membership on the importance of DRIVE (Democrat, Republication, Independent, Voter, Education) and how to help ensure Labor-friendly candidates win.

The Labor Movement today is still very strong and Unions are on the rise everywhere but we are at a crossroads heading into the future. Despite the recent growth, we have seen our rights as Union members challenged by the current Administration, demonstrated by George Bush’s appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. We have seen our rights to card-check neutrality agreements, back pay for unjust terminations during organizing campaigns, and an overall interpretation and enforcement of our Labor Laws being rolled back after years of recognized law.

This is the year as Union members that we must put aside our disappointment in a political process that seems to have forgotten the working man and woman.

The Primary Election is approaching fast. Joint Council 28’s Endorsements for it are linked below. Please have a look at them here: http://www.jc28.org/2008-primary-endorsements.htm.

Local 174 agrees with the JC-28 recommendations, including in the races in our geographic areas. All of the endorsed candidates support reforms in health care, the Employee Free Choice Act, and strong rights for union members.

As Teamsters, part of the strongest and most powerful Union in the Labor Movement, we need to lead and make sure we take an active role in helping these candidates win office; we must take control of our future and not leave it up to chance.

SOME FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Here is some added information from the IBT on its politically-related Programs:

DRIVE PROGRAM
Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education — or DRIVE — is the political arm of the Teamsters’ Government Affairs Department. Backed by one of the nation’s largest Political Action Committees, the DRIVE Program has the resources to effectively support candidates who back Teamster priorities and oppose those who work against us. A dedicated field staff works year-round, visiting worksites, talking with members one-on-one about the issues, and encouraging Teamster members to support the DRIVE PAC with financial contributions.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
The Legislative Program ensures that the Teamsters have a voice in the halls of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Teamster priorities are monitored and promoted daily by a core staff of legislative representatives who often work in coalition with allied organizations, including the AFL-CIO and other unions. The program also relies on the active involvement of Local Union and Joint Council leadership, as well as rank-and-file members, to reach Members of Congress, educate them on our issues, and deliver the message that they will be held accountable for their actions on Teamster issues.

STATE PROGRAM
The purpose of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Government Affairs State Program is to communicate and advance the goals of the Teamster membership through state-focused legislative and political efforts coordinated within our Union. The program enlists a field staff of State Government Affairs Coordinators who are each assigned a region of the country, working with Joint Councils and Local Union leadership to support existing Legislative and Political Programs, as well as implementing new Programs where none currently exists.

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Teamsters Praise Bill Banning Unsafe Mexican Trucks
Hoffa Lauds Passage of DeFazio Bill In House Transportation Committee
(July 31, 2008) Washington, D.C. — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa commended the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today for approving a bill to stop the Bush administration’s reckless pilot program allowing unsafe trucks from Mexico to travel freely throughout the United States

“It’s outrageous that this program has been allowed to continue despite the fact that it’s endangering American lives,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “How many people must die on our highways before the Bush administration wakes up?”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., bans the pilot program by Sept. 6. It also prohibits the transportation secretary from granting authority to any Mexican trucks beyond the commercial zone, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The bill passed unanimously by a voice vote.

“I commend Rep. DeFazio and the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for taking a stand today to protect the lives of American drivers and their families,” Hoffa said.

A federal law took effect on Dec. 26 that bans funding for the Bush administration’s pilot program. But in brazen defiance of that and other laws, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) claimed it did not understand the intent of the law. FMCSA refused to shut down the pilot project that had begun shortly after Labor Day last year.

“This bill makes it as clear as day that Congress wants the border closed to dangerous trucks,” Hoffa said.

The Transportation Department’s inspector general reported earlier this year that FMCSA was unsure if it was inspecting all trucks from Mexico at the border. FMCSA opened the border to a Mexican trucking company with a long history of hazardous safety violations, Trinity Industries de Mexico. Trinity’s 16 trucks averaged 112 violations each — according to FMCSA’s own database — in the year before it was admitted to the pilot program.

Mexican trucks and truck drivers are not held to the same high safety standards as their U.S. counterparts.

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Don't Force Workers to Work on Sunday
The Teamsters and Community, Worker, and Faith Groups Urge Jewel Groceries to Back Off Demands That Bakery Drivers Give Up Sundays
(July 28, 2008) Washington, D.C. — Bakery drivers and community activists leafleted at five Jewel grocery stores in the Chicagoland area yesterday, urging the grocery chain to give up its attempts to force its bakery suppliers’ drivers to work on Sundays. Jewel’s demand that the drivers work several hours on Sundays would affect about 400 bakery route sales reps employed by Jewel suppliers Sara Lee, Interstate Baking Corp. (IBC), George Westin Baking and Chicago Baking.

“We’re out here to send a message to Jewel that Sunday is a day when Americans should be able to go to worship or spend time with their families,” said Brian Meidel, President of Teamsters Local 734, which has represented the bakery route sales reps since 1940.

Meidel added that Jewel only recently began demanding that the bakeries provide full driver services on Sundays, and in contrast with the previous system under which drivers volunteered to make the early-morning Sunday runs to area bakeries in exchange for overtime pay.

“Our bakery reps always make sure that Jewel customers have fresh baked goods every day of the week,” Meidel said. “The system isn’t broken.” He said that he believes Jewel is demanding the Sunday hours from bakery drivers in order to cut costs on Jewel’s own staff time for restocking bakery shelves throughout the day on Sundays. “To save a few dollars, Jewel wants to keep these drivers away from their families and their religious observances on their day of rest. That’s just not right,” Meidel said.

Religious and community activists are outraged at the grocery chain’s actions, questioning the company’s commitment to preserving family and faith-based values.

“Forcing bakery drivers to work on Sundays hurts workers, their families, and our community,” said Chicago Jobs with Justice Executive Director James Thindwa. “I urge Jewel executives to think about how they value their own Sunday time with their family or at worship, and give the same respect to these hardworking drivers.”

The leafleting took place at five Jewel stores, including the stores in Elk Grove and Algonquin. Meidel says the drivers will continue to ask Jewel to keep Sunday a volunteer work day. “We’ll be out here on another Sundays until Jewel agrees to respect our Sundays,” he said.

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WTO Trade Talks Must End With Collapse of Doha
Statement for IBT by Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa
(July 28, 2008) Washington, D.C. — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa released the following statement today about the collapse of the so-called "Doha round" of global trade talks in Geneva:

"Once again, the Doha round of global trade discussions have collapsed — a glaring sign that it is time to finally let the World Trade Organization negotiations officially end. It is time to replace the failed WTO model with a new and fair model of trade that benefits the majority of workers in the United States and across the globe.

"All workers have seen what these failed trade policies have done to our jobs, food safety, product safety, wages, the environment and the middle class — and they have had enough.

"The Teamsters were on the front lines protesting the WTO in Seattle and in Hong Kong. And we’re continuing the fight today. It’s an outrage that labor rights and the environment are not even a consideration at the WTO. Just this past weekend, the United States once again got desperate and actually suggested the possibility of negotiating on ‘Mode 4,’ which would essentially be making immigration policy at the WTO. This is not just unacceptable, but it is unconstitutional.

"The time is now for new trade policies that do not kill our jobs and destroy our middle class. Our trade policies must provide access to other countries’ markets and protect our resources and our jobs at home. That benefits all workers — not just the CEOs of multinational corporations."

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