[RealTeam]

Local 278 has rejected the possible merger with Local 85.

Probably wasn't a good fit, 278 has a gang of UPSers and little else.

Local 85 the oldest Local West of the Mississippi, the oldest Brotherhood of Teamsters Local in the IBT, and one of the most miltant Locals in the IBT is like the orphan of the IBT. Nobody wants to merge with Local 85-- supposedly because of it's Members.

What kind of Teamsters Union is this? The kind of Union where we all dress up in pretty little uniforms, toast s'mores by the campfire, tell ghost stories and sing Neil Sedaka songs?

[TA]

Nobody wants to merge with Local 85-- supposedly because of it's Members.

Hey Brother maybe it's more likely because of the leadership (?) of Local 85. Does 85 have any assets that make it desirable to another Local?

[alex_y]

Hey TA, Real Team knows Local 85 as good or better than most anyone. 85 Teamster members are like Teamsters used to be, they are tough and unyielding but their world has passed them by. Their membership has shrunk because work opportunity eg freight, produce, fish, meat, freight forwarding, the rail hubs and a lot more has shrunk or disappeared, and the growth areas eg UPS and Garbage are not included in their jurisdiction, except for DHL. Unfortunately, its only going to get worse. 278 would have been a decent match except for a likely culture clash, but 853 which has a lot of members on the SF side of the Bay Area is also a decent match. 85 is a tough Local to service with jurisdictions such as the movie industry that are great, but require time consuming service and representation, so its difficult for 85 to be self sustaining. Its too bad that there are no reduced or elimination of per capita payment provisions included in some of these merger or trusteeship discussions. Another suggestion that I have made previously is to give 85 the entire JC#7 movie industry jurisdiction, even though I pissed everyone else off when I suggested it.

[RealTeam]

Hey TA, Real Team knows Local 85 as good or better than most anyone. 85 Teamster members are like Teamsters used to be, they are tough and unyielding but their world has passed them by. Their membership has shrunk because work opportunity eg freight, produce, fish, meat, freight forwarding, the rail hubs and a lot more has shrunk or disappeared, and the growth areas eg UPS and Garbage are not included in their jurisdiction, except for DHL. Unfortunately, its only going to get worse. 278 would have been a decent match except for a likely culture clash, but 853 which has a lot of members on the SF side of the Bay Area is also a decent match. 85 is a tough Local to service with jurisdictions such as the movie industry that are great, but require time consuming service and representation, so its difficult for 85 to be self sustaining. Its too bad that there are no reduced or elimination of per capita payment provisions included in some of these merger or trusteeship discussions. Another suggestion that I have made previously is to give 85 the entire JC#7 movie industry jurisdiction, even though I pissed everyone else off when I suggested it.

I think that's a great idea! Give 85 the Motion Picure industry throughout the area!
Be good to see all the Trade Shows under one as well, that way the Brothers and Sisters from 70 and 287 could share the same Health and Welfare benefits Local 85 enjoys, which are the best in the area.

We ARE the most miltant Local in the IBT. Our Local leadership is doing a great job on this one! We will be deep, and in force on July 22, Brother, across the Bay in Oakland supprting our General President and Brother Mack at that huge rally. Hope to see you there!


Thanks for the kind words!

[EdHeisler]

Teamsters Local 85 did pass this well written anti-war resolution seven years ago. Anyone know who worked on writing it?


Teamsters Local 85

February 12th, 2003

Endorsed by Local 85 Executive Board, 2/13/03

Local 85 Resolution Opposing the Bush Administration's War On Iraq

WHEREAS, in the labor community in the US and around the world, there is a growingrecognition of a need for average citizens to come together now to voice ourconcerns about decisions being made in our name by the current US presidentialadministration which is effectively unchecked by Congress; and we are makingthis statement because there is a general concensus developing that these decisionswill have extremely damaging consequences for us and for other working peoplehere and elsewhere;

WHEREAS, the American people have no reason to go to war against the people of Iraq,and have no desire to trade human blood for oil and empire;

WHEREAS, the Iraqi people, already suffering from 12 years of sanctions and continuousbombing (which has inflicted death upon
1.6 million people, including 500,000 children) will be innocent victims of the war;


WHEREAS, the billions of dolloars spent to stage and execute yet another war on Iraq arebeing taken away from our schools, hospitals, housing, and Social Security and servicesfor the poor in the midst of the greatest economic crisis in recent memory, even asthe Bush Administration simultaneously plans even more giveaways and welfare for their richsupporters; and

WHEREAS, the Bush Administration has spearheaded a renewed assault on organizedlabor which includes: attempting to implement NAFTA aginst the interests of Teamsters intrucking; using Taft-Hartley against the longshoremen; excluding over 50,000 federal airportscreeners' right to organize; privatizing nearly 200,000 federal jobs covered by theAmerican Federation of Government Employees(AFGE), and removing collectivebargaining rights from these employees; and

WHEREAS, the war appears to be a pretext for attacks on our civil liberties, labor rights,other human rights, and immigrants: the Bush Administration and Congress areexpanding the government's ability to detain non-citizens, to conduct telephone andinternet surveillance, and to carry out secret searches through the US Patriot Act, whichis undermining our precious civil liberties, including labor's right to organize; and is thereforeeroding the central character of our democracy, which the Bush administration issworn to protect;

WHEREAS, the Bush Administration's drive for war serves as a cover and distraction forthe sinking economy, ongoing corporate corruption; layoffs, and the seemingly deliberateengineering of a widening gap between rich and poor;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Teamsters Local 85 stands firmly against the BushAdmininstration's drive to war and calls for a re-ordering of our national priorities whichshould include policies which promote: jobs, education, health care, & a cleanenvironment; and a renewed commitment to ensure social justice, protect civil liberties,and strengthen all human rights, including labor rights; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Local 85 will add its voice to the growing number ofunion members and organizations who are not only taking a stand against a war on Iraq,but also against the US Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Teamsters Local 85 joins other labor organizations, andcommunity allies to actively promote and participate in activities opposing the BushAdministration's drive to war, including encouraging our members to attend the anti-warmarch and rally in San Francisco on Sunday, February 16; and that this resolution be immediately conveyed to: the San Francisco Labor Council,Teamsters Joint Council 7, the IBT, our 2 US Senators (Feinstein and Boxer), andour members of Congress (Pelosi and Lantos).

http://www.uslaborag...cle.php?id=3799