Chicago IL – Los funcionarios del local 743 del sindicato de Camioneros (Teamsters) en Chicago jamas luchan en contra de los patrones. No organizan huelgas, y dicen a los miembros que una huelga es una cosa mala. El resultado es contratos pobres, aumentos cada vez menores, personas que no son miembros del sindicato haciendo trabajos de los miembros, y la desaparencia de beneficios que en un tiempo eran decentes. Los 14,000 miembros del local 743, que son trabajadores de industria, oficinistas, de bodegas y de cuidado de salud, ya están hartos.

La Planilla Liderato Nuevo ha postulado candidatos para el local 743 en las elecciones que nos acercan. Es una planilla de la base que compromete a que se acabe la corrupción de la “vieja guardia”, a que se contraten mas representantes del sindicato, a que se movilicen a los miembros y que se bajen a los enormes salarios y privilegios de los funcionarios del sindicato. La Planilla Liderato Nuevo incluye empleados de los hospitales de la Universidad de Chicago que están cansados de falsificación del voto en la ratificación del contrato, y tambien empleados que perdieron sus beneficios de salud porque el Presidente internacional Hoffa, Bob Walston y Richard Lopez manejaron mal a los fondos.

“Estamos negociando un contrato en Rush-St. Lukes ahorita. El representante sindical Hoffaista Reggie Ford no presente ningun liderato en estas negociaciones. Si no fuera por la movilización de la membracía por parte de la Planilla de Liderato Nuevo, Ford hubiera regalado todo [a la gerencia]” dijo Debbie Simmons, cadnidata para secretario/tesorero en la planilla Nuevo Liderato.

En vez de protejer a los luchadores de la membracía del siindicato la gente de Hoffa colaboran con la gerencia para que los despidan.

“Este verano se vendió a nuestra compañía, y los dueños nuevos despidieron a trabajadores con mas de 10 años de experiencia” dijo Edwin Soto, un empleado en Flextek, que fue despedido tambien. “Despedieron a los que nosotros que nos opusimos a los patrones cuando violaron a nuestro contrato. Cuando presionabamos al sindicato para recuperar a nuestros trabajos, el presidente del local 743, Bob Watson, amenazó a los trabajadores en vez de luchar por nuestros intereses”. Soto está postulado para síndico en la planilla de Liderato Nuevo.

Richard Berg, candidato para presidencia del local en la Planilla Liderato Nuevo, dijo “los trabajadores miembros de este sindicato hemos unido en contra de la corrupción, y estamos listos a pelear con los patrones por medio de regresar el control del sindicato a sus miembros. Nuestros miembros exigen dignidad y respeto y no vamos a descansarnos hasta sacar a estos rateros y estúpidos del sindicato”.

En locales del sindicato de Camioneros en todo Chicago, es notable el número de contratos débiles. “Hay bastantes trabajadores latinos maltratados” dijo Mercy Soto, que trabaja torno de noche descargando camiones en UPS en local 705. “He hecho campaña en lugares de trabajo pertenecientes al local 743 donde los contratos establecen dos 'capas' de trabajadores” con diferentes salarios. “A los trabajadores latinos los contratan a un salario debajo de lo que dice el contrato. Si los trabajadores se quejan, se quedan despedidos y el sindicato no lucha a su favor” dice Soto.

“La gente está cansada de que los patrones los amenazan y luego los funcionarios del sindicato les dicen que a menos que se queden callados, se les van a echar la Migra encima” agregó.

La planilla de Liderato Nuevo se considera parte del nuevo movimiento obrero en este país. En la convención de los Camioneros (Teamsters) en 2001, los candidatos de la planilla Liderato Nuevo retaron a la vieja guardia hoffaista. “Luchabamos a favor de mas pagos de huelga para los trabajadores, menos salarios y privilegios para los funcionarios del sindicato, y en contra del racismo” dijo Tony Caldera, candidato de Liderato Nuevo para vicepresidente.

En la Convención, se nominóf a Tom Needham para presidente nacional del sindicato en la planilla Nacional de “Rank and File Power” (Poder a la Base). Los apoyadores de Hoffa intentaron callar a los reformistas, pero fracasaron. “Rank and File Power” luchó en contra de Hoffa por sus vinculaciones con el presidente George Bush. Tambien fueron los reformistas que obligaron al sindicato a que se expresara en contra del bombardeo de Vieques por la marina de guerra norteamericana.

Hoffa desde entonces ha mantenido su gran amor por Bush, apoyando el plan de sacar petroleo de la preserva nacional del Arctico en Alaska.

Todo el sindicato de Camioneros “Teamsters” se encuentra en movimiento. Como se vienen acercando las elecciones nacionales, estas cuestiones de vida o muerte han impulsado que muchos miembros reflejen sobre sobre la necesidad de cambios desde arriba y para abajo. William Jenkis, un trabajador en el hospital Rush-St Lukes, dijo “La planilla Liderato Nuevo se base en la clase trabajadora. Por eso es que apoyamos a Tom Leedham. Por eso es que nos comprometimos a transformar al movimiento obrero, no solo en el local 743, sino en todo el país”.

Christine Royster, de la Planilla Liderato Nuevo del local 743, fue nominada para vicepresidente nacional en la planilla de Tom Leedham de “Rank and File Power”. Si sale electa será la primera afroamerican en la junta ejecutiva de los “Teamsters'.

“Es un honor que me postularon para este puesto” dijo Royster. “A demasiados afroamericanos y latinos nos ignoran y nos tratan como miembros de clase segunda en el sindicato de Teamsters. La planilla de Tom Leedham “Rank and File Power” va a cambiar a todo eso”.

#ChicagoIL #News #Teamsters #ChristineRoyster #TeamstersLocal743 #NewLeadershipSlate #RichardBerg

Chicago, IL – The union officials at Teamster Local 743 in Chicago never fight the bosses. They never strike, and tell members that striking is bad. The result is poor contracts, smaller and smaller raises, non-union workers doing union jobs, and once good benefits disappearing. The nearly 14,000 members of Local 743, who are health, industrial, office, and warehouse workers have had enough.

The New Leadership Slate is running candidates in the upcoming election to take over Local 743. It's a rank and file slate committed to ending the graft of the old-guard, hiring more union representatives, mobilizing the members, and cutting union officials' huge salaries and perks. The 743 New Leadership Slate includes workers from the University of Chicago Hospitals who are sick of rigged contract ratification votes, and workers who lost their health insurance because allies of International President Hoffa, Bob Walston and Richard Lopez mismanaged the fund.

“We're in contract negotiations at Rush-St. Lukes right now. The pro-Hoffa union representative Reggie Ford gives no leadership to these negotiations. If it wasn't for the 743 New Leadership Slate mobilizing the members, he [Ford] would have given away the entire store,” said Debra Simmons, candidate for Secretary Treasurer on the New Leadership Slate.

Instead of protecting rank and file fighters, the Hoffa people work with the bosses to get them fired.

“Our company was sold this summer, and the new owners fired people with over 10 years experience,” said Edwin Soto an employee at Flextek, one of the fired workers. “They fired those of us that fought the bosses when our contract was violated. When we pushed the union to get our jobs back, the President of Local 743, Bob Walston, threatened the workers rather than fight in their interests.” Soto is a candidate for Trustee on New Leadership Slate.

Richard Berg, a candidate for President of New Leadership Slate said, “The workers of this union are united against the corruption, and they are poised to fight the bosses by taking this local back to the members. Our members demand dignity and respect, and won't stop until these thieves and fools are kicked out the union.”

In Teamster locals all over the Chicago area, bad contracts being negotiated. “There are too many Latino workers being treated badly,” said Mercy Soto, a night unloader at UPS in Local 705. “I have campaigned at workplaces in Local 743 where there are two-tiered contracts. Latino workers get hired at lower rates than what the contract says. If people speak out, they get fired, and the union doesn't fight for them. People are tired of being threatened by the bosses and union officials that tell them to stay in their place or La Migra (the Immigration service) will come for you. We have to see some serious change here in Chicago.”

The New Leadership Slate sees itself as a part of the broader movement of workers. At the 2001 Teamsters convention, New Leadership Slate delegates took stands against the Hoffa old-guard. “We fought for raising the strike benefits for all striking workers, cutting and capping salaries and perks for top officials, and took stands against racism in the Teamsters,” said Tony Caldera, another New Leadership Slate candidate for Vice President.

At the convention, Tom Leedham was nominated for president on the Rank and File Power Slate. The Hoffa forces attempted to shut down the reformers, but failed. The Rank and File Power Slate fought Hoffa and his kissing up to President Bush. Reformers were also able to force the Teamsters to take a stand against the U.S. Navy bombing on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

Hoffa has since built his love nest with Bush by supporting his bid to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The whole of the Teamsters Union is in motion. With national elections coming up soon, the life or death issues have pushed many in the union to reflect upon the need for change from the top to the bottom. William Jenkins, a worker at Rush-St. Lukes said, “The New Leadership Slate is grounded in the working class. That's why we support Tom Leedham. That is why we are committed to turning around the labor movement, not just in Teamsters 743, but around the country.”

743 New Leadership Slate member Christine Royster was nominated for Vice-President on the Tom Leedham Rank and File Power Slate. If elected, she will be the first African American woman ever to serve on the Teamster International Executive Board.

“I am honored to be running for this office,” said Royster, “Too many Black and Latino workers are ignored and treated like second-class union members in the Teamsters. The Tom Leedham Rank and File Power Slate is going to change all that.”

#ChicagoIL #Chicago #News #Teamsters #ChristineRoyster #TeamstersLocal743 #NewLeadershipSlate #RichardBerg

Christine Royster ran for vice president of the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters (IBT) last year on the Tom Leedham Rank & File Power Slate. Unfortunately, she lost, denying the Teamsters their first African American woman vice president. Royster, running as a rank-and-file member, would have been a dynamic addition to the Teamsters national executive board.

Royster recently retired from Blue Cross/Blue Shield where she worked for 28 years as a clerical employee. She also served IBT Local 743 members as union steward and business agent.

In 1998, Royster ran for recording secretary of Local 743 on the 743 New Leadership Slate. She is active in the Teamsters National Black Caucus. She recently joined and became involved in Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) the primary reform organization in the Teamsters.

Fight Back!: Why did you become involved in your union?

Royster: I did not like or have confidence in the people that were representing us. We were not getting the proper service at Blue Cross for the dues that we were paying. Clerical workers, nursing home and hospital workers also were not being treated right by the Teamsters and I wanted to do something about it.

To tell the truth, at first I did not see the big picture. Later, I was elected as a delegate to the 1991 Teamster convention. I saw future IBT president Ron Carey was nominated by an energetic group of rank-and-file activists. Then I saw the government remove him after he led the historic strike at United Parcel Service (UPS).

Fight Back!: Do you think African Americans are treated differently from other members in the Teamsters?

Royster: Sure I do! Hoffa and his cronies don't acknowledge us as leaders. We make up a huge section of this union, yet we are ignored, or, worse yet, treated as tokens. Women get this treatment too. Sometimes I think being ignored by Hoffa is worse than his negative treatment.

One of the most blatant examples happened at the IBT 2001 Convention in Las Vegas. Hoffa had started a scholarship fund in his usual self-promoting way. He named it the James R. Hoffa Scholarship after his father.

At the convention, they flashed the pictures of those Teamster children who had won the $10,000 scholarships. The first ten kids were all white. The next ten kids were all white. We could not believe it! When they were finished, zero African American and zero Latino children received a $10,000 scholarship from the James R. Hoffa fund.

Of course, our 743 New Leadership Slate delegation, led by Debra Simmons, rushed to the microphones to protest. When we got there, they turned off the microphones. They refused to acknowledge us. Dozens of Hoffa thugs were sent to surround and to try to intimidate Debra. They then turned out the lights and started to show us a video about trucks that we had already seen.

I guess this was Hoffa's response to affirmative action demands.

Fight Back!: How can working Teamsters turn their union into one that fights in their interest?

Royster: Solidarity is the only way. We cannot wait for someone else to do it for us. To transform our union into an organization that fights for workers, everyone has to get involved. Sometimes it looks like a David and Goliath battle. Solidarity, worker involvement and organizations like Teamsters for a Democratic Union and the 743 New Leadership Slate are our sling shot. And, as I remember, David won that battle.

#ChicagoIL #Interview #AfricanAmerican #Teamsters #TDU #HoffaJr #ChristineRoyster #TeamstersLocal743

Members of Local 743, like other Teamsters across the country, have struggled to turn the union around. This year, I was honored to be asked to join Tom Leedham as one of the regional vice-presidential candidates on the Rank and File Power Slate. Together with the New Leadership Slate in Local 743, it was a rank and file slate committed to ending the graft of the old-guard, hiring more union representatives, mobilizing the members, and cutting union officials' huge salaries and perks.

As you may know from reading Fight Back!, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., succeeded in buying his re-election – using money from his backers, the management in companies whose employees he represents, and from those corrupt hacks in locals around the country. And as you probably know, in Local 743, the president, Bob Walston, stole the election from the New Leadership Slate. The 743 New Leadership Slate has filed charges with the Teamsters Joint Council and is preparing to go to the Department of Labor and to the courts. So, it's not over in 743.

For now, we have Jimmy Hoffa back as our international president. But the struggle continues in the International as well.

For myself, I am honored to report that I received 40,663 votes for regional vice president, which was the highest vote of any regional vice presidential candidate on our slate. When we campaigned, I said that too many Black and Latino workers are ignored and treated like second-class union members in the Teamsters. The Tom Leedham Rank and File Power Slate was dedicated to changing all that.

For example, what I saw at the Teamsters convention last spring was obscene! 30 scholarships, $10,000 each, were passed out to children of Teamsters. All of the recipients were white. Now the membership of the union is close to 50% Black and Latino.

Here's the latest news: after lying during his campaign, saying he had no plan to raise dues, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. has called for an emergency national convention with only one issue: to raise dues. The members are fighting mad about this. We know that we get lousy representation, and we know how our dues are getting used. We have to go back to Las Vegas and confront the sell-outs and the gangsters – we don't want one more dime to go into their pockets, supporting their millionaire lifestyles, while they sell us down the drain.

We also have to get ready to support our brothers and sisters at UPS. The great strike in 1997 was fought with the demands that thousands of part-time workers be made permanent, with all of the benefits and pay that full timers receive. Many of these part-timers are Black. UPS has made only a small number permanent. We should be gearing up for a fight for the jobs that they agreed to in the last contract. We should again “Shut down big brown.” But Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. is preparing to sell us out even further.

So we have a fight on two fronts – against our bosses, and against the sell-outs in our unions. If we have the strength that comes from the vision for a real union, a class struggle union, we know that we will win.

#ChicagoIL #News #Teamsters #Hoffa #TDU #HoffaJr #ChristineRoyster #TeamstersLocal743