COVER FEATURE - JUNE 2004
TEAM
PLAYERS
By Daniel J. Linss - Editor
Labor unions have always been controversial; people either love them or hate them. For over 100 years, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) has been at the forefront of much of that controversy. Politics aside, the Teamsters have an interesting history and have done much for the American worker - not just their members. This month our cover features a clean combination owned by Local 630 out of Los Angeles, California. Used as an organizing tool and publicity magnet, the rig’s purpose is to promote the Teamsters, participate in charitable events, and provide a positive image for Local 630 and the trucking industry.
From the early days of our nation, the men who drove horse-drawn wagons played an essential role in American commerce. Trade and delivery of goods would have come to a standstill without the hard work and risks undertaken by these team drivers or “teamsters” as they were known. Despite the importance and necessity of their work, life was not easy for them. Jobs were not secure and often scarce in low seasons or difficult economic periods in the country. When a job was available, the workload was heavy and frequently dangerous as decent transportation routes were nonexistent. The men labored 12 to 18 hours per day, seven days a week for an average wage of $2.00 per day.
By the end of the 19th Century, teamsters were fed up with poor treatment and began to join together to improve their working conditions. In 1898, team drivers in the Midwest organized 18 local unions. This activity caught the attention of Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He began urging the locals to form a national union and join the AFL. Local unions agreed and in 1899, the Team Drivers International Union (TDIU) was formed with a membership of 1,700.
By 1902, the union had grown to 13,800 members, but there was trouble brewing. Several locals in the Chicago area were unhappy with an increase in the per capita tax paid by the locals to the International Union and they strongly disagreed with the TDIU’s policy of allowing drivers who owned up to five teams to join the union. These disgruntled Chicago members eventually split off and formed their own union - the Teamsters National Union. There were now two unions representing teamsters, one affiliated with the AFL and one independent union.
Most rank-and-file members quickly realized that two unions were an unnecessary drain on time, energy and resources, and began to debate some possible alternatives. Gompers helped foster a solution that led to a unified national union membership with an amalgamation convention held in August of 1903 in Niagara Falls, New York. Delegates were sent from each of the two groups to work out their differences and a new union - the International Brotherhood of Teamsters - emerged. The new union soon became recognized as a powerful force in American labor. Soon thereafter, motorized trucks replaced the horse-drawn wagons, but the name of the union remained the same. Today, that name is a reminder of how far the transportation industry has evolved.
The Teamsters first general president was named Cornelius P. Shea. In 1907, Daniel J. Tobin became the union’s fifth president and held that seat for 45 years. Much growth and strength came during Tobin’s term, but the Teamsters really saw their membership and power grow under the leadership of James Riddle Hoffa. Jimmy Hoffa became the union’s general president in 1957 and held that office until he resigned in 1971.
Perhaps one of the most infamous of all union leaders, Hoffa allegedly had ties to organized crime and ruled the union with an iron fist. Although a true advocate for the American worker, Hoffa’s enthusiasm and passion got the best of him. In 1964, after many years of allegations, investigations and hearings, Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering and fraud and sentenced to 13 years in prison. While in prison, he retained his status as president until 1971, when he finally stepped down. In the same year, President Nixon commuted his sentence, with the parole provision that he not engage in union activity until 1980. After his release, Hoffa toured the country promoting prison reform. He disappeared in 1975 and is widely assumed to have been murdered.
Over the years, the Teamsters have fought hard to overcome the Jimmy Hoffa stigma and many presidents have come and gone. A few years ago, Jimmy Hoffa’s son James P. Hoffa was elected as general president. James Jr. has made it his personal goal to clean up and reenergize the Teamsters - and so far he has done a superb job. Even before taking office, he pledged to maintain a union culture that is intolerant of organized crime, and to establish and enforce legitimate, reasonable standards of conduct to safeguard the union and its 1.5 million members against corruption.
Today’s Teamsters are more than just truck drivers. The union has organized divisions that include police agencies, firefighters, food processing and warehouse workers, airline mechanics, trade show and convention workers, building materials and construction employees and many more. Fueled by a contagious spirit that is equal part compassion, commitment, creativity, solidarity and strength, the Teamsters are dedicated to enhancing the lives of their members across North America and to win justice for working families. A great example of this would be L.A.’s own Local 630.
Boasting a membership of around 8,500 and having a $7 million defense fund (a savings account set up to pay members in the event of a strike), Local 630 may not be one of the largest out there, but they are certainly one of the strongest. Much of that success comes from the leadership of Local 630’s Secretary-Treasurer Paul A. Kenny. Paul has been a Teamster since 1978, working his way up to the top spot at Local 630 in 2003. Paul is doing such a fine job, he recently received a letter from the top brass at the Teamsters in Washington stating that they felt that he was putting together some of the best contracts in the nation. One of the strategies he recently implemented was purchasing a beautiful truck and trailer to help promote his Local and support its members. The campaign has been a tremendous success.
The truck is a 2004 Freightliner Coronado with a strikingly brilliant Lazer Red Pearl and Metallic Black paint job. Adorned with bold gold graphics, the truck stands out in a crowd and does a good job of representing Local 630. Purchased last year from Los Angeles Freightliner, the truck features a 14-liter Detroit with 500 hp, a 13-speed transmission, 3.58 rears, a Jake brake and a 270-inch wheelbase, a 70-inch raised roof sleeper and every bell and whistle you could imagine. Freightliner’s Coronado comes equipped with EVERYTHING you could every want, including lots of chrome and running boards. The trailer is a 48-foot 1992 Fruehauf van, painted to match the tractor.
Back in 1937, Local 595 was established in Los Angeles. In 1985, Local 595 and Local 630 merged and assumed the name of the latter. Covering Los Angeles and its surrounding areas from an old building in downtown L.A. that used to be a training facility for up-and-coming boxers, Local 630 is just one of the over 500 Teamster Locals across the nation. Fighting mostly for fair wages, good benefits, retirement packages and job security, Paul and the others at Local 630 represent the workers at some of the largest grocery store and warehousing companies in California, including Vons, Unified Western Grocers, Sysco, U.S. Foods, Ralph’s and many more. They also represent workers in the dairy, produce, cold storage and liquor industries. Having a long history in downtown L.A.’s Produce Market, Local 630 has done much to improve the working conditions in that area. Although many employers initially frown upon the union coming in to their business, most of them eventually realize that the union is not there to take advantage of them but to better their employees - and in the process, that usually betters the owner’s business.
Paul’s hard-working staff at Local 630 includes President Sylvia Garza, Business Representatives Art Carrillo, Damascus Castellanos, Jesus Gonzalez, Frank Granillo, Tom Martone, Michael Paul, Yvonne Parker, Robert Rios and Lalo Rodriguez, and Organizer Xavier Sandoval, as well as a small office staff. These folks are proud of their work and truly feel that they are making a difference in the lives of the American laborer. And let’s not forget about Mauro Alejandro - he’s the lucky Teamster that was hired to drive the truck. And with over 35 years of driving experience and membership in Local 630 since 1969, he was the perfect candidate for the job.
The world in 1903 looked very different than it does now. Many of the rights and protections that workers today take for granted (medical benefits, paid holidays, pension plans, overtime pay, etc) were just a dream at the turn of the century. But the efforts of Teamsters like Paul and the others at Local 630 have helped make that dream a reality for thousands of workers and their families. Paul’s current goal is to have 10,000 members and $10 million in their defense fund (a goal he feels will be reached in the next 24 months). Diligence, honesty and a good reputation have helped Paul get this far, but teamwork has always been the most important factor in the success of the Teamsters - and it will surely be what gets Local 630 to its goals as well.
~ We’d like to thank Local 630 for spending the day with us and for allowing Mauro to take the truck wherever we wanted to go. We’d also like to thank Stan Holtzman for some of the photos used in this article and on the cover.