New leadership for nation and Teamsters

Secretary-Treasurer's Report Summer 2009

The first quarter of 2009 was plenty busy for all of us at Local 853.

Barack Obama took office as President on January 20, and many members came to our new meeting room to watch the inauguration on our big screen. It was both emotional and inspiring for all of us, as this was the moment that we hoped and campaigned for. Given all of the problems that our nation is facing, that morning I had fleeting thoughts that President Obama was hoping for a re-count!

The President is moving quickly to correct many of his inherited problems and to move forward. The wreckage left by Wall Street, the corporations that cooked their books, and the mortgage industry will take years to repair. Credit markets are absolutely necessary for our economy to function, and for many of our employers to operate. Many of our members’ jobs depend on their employers’ ability to borrow operating capital. The new administration understands this; their efforts to kick-start the banks with huge infusions of money may be starting to work.

While it’s hard to see how infusing banks with capital directly helps our members who are out of work or suffering through foreclosures, some of Obama’s initiatives have already aided those of us on “Main Street.” Unemployment insurance has been extended, COBRA subsidies will help with some of our laid-off members maintain health care, and the banks should begin to work with our members who are at risk of losing their homes.

One thing is for sure, what has already happened shows us the importance of getting the right person elected. None of the “worker friendly” assistance happened under the Bush administration, nor would it have happened under a McCain administration. We elected the right person!

Remembering Tony Lock

Until he died in March, Tony Lock was the chairman of the Western Conference of Teamsters (WCT) Pension Trust Fund for the last 15 years.

Tony was a close and true friend. I first met him when he was the young, smart, principal officer of Local 104 in Arizona. He was a huge and imposing man who could have used his size to get many things done. However, while his size mattered, his overwhelming intellect was even more extraordinary and impressive. His knowledge and expertise were quickly recognized and he moved first to the Western Conference of Teamsters, and then to the International Union, as the National Warehouse Director.

We spent days and weeks together during grocery negotiations. Watching Tony negotiate, with the employers as well as with our very militant members, was a true learning experience.

After the Carey administration fired him for political reasons, Tony was asked to become the union chairman of the WCT Pension Plan. This is where he did his greatest work for the membership. With nearly 500,000 members either receiving a pension or participating in the plan, this is the largest multi-employer plan in the world. Tony led us through the good times and the bad and was always working to protect the members’ pension. Here too, he taught me a lot.

Tony had been ill for an extended period of time, but he was at all of the meetings and never missed a beat. Right up to the end, his concern was for the Plan and the participants, wanting to make sure that everything was running right. I will miss Tony. If you are retired or when you retire, you owe thanks to Tony for a safe, secure pension.

Mack to chair pension plan

This brings me to a few changes that have happened as a result of Tony’s untimely death. The union pension plan trustees selected Chuck Mack to serve as the Union Chair. As a result, Chuck will step down from all his Teamster-related duties after 43 years as a Teamster officer and official in order to assume the chairmanship of the Pension Plan.

Chuck is a great choice, as he has been a trustee longer than any other union trustee. And, through his long career with Local 70, his distinguished leadership of Joint Council 7, and his service as Western Region Vice President, he certainly understands the needs of our participants.

This year, all pension plans are facing challenges, and the WCT pension trust is no exception. Chuck is especially capable to handle these problems going forward. He will do a great job for all of us.

My new responsibilities

With all of this happening, I have been elected by the Joint Council 7 Executive Board to replace Chuck Mack as President, and also have been appointed to the Teamsters General Executive Board as Western Region Vice President. Both are great honors, and I have humbly accepted both positions.

While this may sound like the piling on of more work, I will be able to concentrate more on issues in the western states and will not be handling so many issues elsewhere. I believe these appointments bring honor to our local union. I want to assure you that Local 853 will always be my first priority. I will continue to work as hard as I can for you and your families.