Fall/Winter 2004
Volume 111 - No. 3 & 4

BLET Focus

Teamsters keep growing

A message from IBT General President James P. Hoffa

In October we welcomed the members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes - all 33,000 strong!

They voted by an overwhelming majority to merge with us, following your example. This merger gives us over 42 percent of rail labor united under the Teamster banner. We are a giant step forward towards forming a seamless transportation union - a vision of mine for many years. We represent port workers, airline pilots, truck drivers and now rail workers - engineers, trainmen and rail maintenance workers. Although the Teamsters Rail Conference was established less than a year ago, it has already grown to nearly 70,000 members. This is an historic time for rail workers of all crafts.

In fact, we have been making great strides in growing the union in many industries. School district workers in Washington state, city employees in Florida, solid waste haulers in Florida and Alabama, farm workers in California, DHL subcontractors from Oregon to Texas to Virginia and thousands of airline workers have contributed to our membership growth. In December, the 60,000 members of the Graphic Communications International Union voted to merge with us, too.

Despite the election loss in November, we will continue to inform the White House of your priorities. We know that locomotive engineers and trainmen have some of the most dangerous jobs on the rails and that higher wages, safer workplaces and the rising cost of insurance are just a few of your concerns. The country's rail system is still in need of increased funding for rail security measures, including the hiring of more operating employees. You cannot replace the seasoned eyes and ears of a dedicated union rail employee with a remote control device or any other piece of technology. We will be fighting for increased homeland security funding for the rails and reducing the cost of health insurance in 2005.

When I traveled the country prior to the election I met with members who were eager to tell me of their family's needs and I assured them, as I do you, that we will be here for the long haul. The rail industry is due for a wake up call and the Teamsters Rail Conference is going to provide it!

Let's stay United and Strong!

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© 2004 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen