A Graphic Communications International Union General Board majority voted to send a proposed GCIU-International Brotherhood of Teamsters merger agreement to the membership for a referendum vote. Approval by a majority of those voting will merge the GCIU with the Teamsters effective Jan. 1, 2005.

The vote was 10 to 9 on the merger referendum. Pres. George Tedeschi voted in favor and broke a 9 to 9 tie.

Voting in the majority were vice presidents Lawrence Martinez, David A. Grabhorn, and Robert L. Lacey; Fred Correll, secretary of District Council 2; Edward A. Treacy, West Caldwell 612M president; Chicago 458-3M Pres. Charles Timmel; St. Paul 1M Pres. George Osgood; Stephen Northup of Seattle 747M; and Montreal 41M Vice Pres. Doug Thomas. Correll made the motion, seconded by Treacy. Opposed were Secy.-Treas. Gerald H. Deneau, Vice Pres. Duncan K. Brown, Detroit 2-289M Pres. David R. Jacobs, Twin Cities 1B Pres. Joyce Hurley, Philadelphia 14M Pres. Kurt Freeman, Toronto 500M Pres. Norman Beattie, New York 1L Secy.-Treas. Anthony Caifano, Indianapolis 17M Pres. Garry D. Foreman, and Chattanooga 197M Pres. Robert Kelly.

A few changes, which were made in the first draft merger agreement, were accepted by the Teamsters. A few additional adjustments were subsequently made at the June 30 session.

GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi, left, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Pres. Jim Hoffa pause prior to formal merger discussions at GCIU headquarters shortly after a GCIU General Board majority voted to negotiate a merger agreement with the Teamsters.

The finalized merger document will be published in two successive issues of the Graphic Communicator in English, French, and Spanish prior to a mail ballot referendum vote that will be taken under direction of the Board of Electors.

If the merger agreement is adopted by the membership, the GCIU would become a self-governing conference within the IBT and continue to function with its own constitution consistent with the Teamsters' constitution.

The Teamsters agreed to a GCIU request that the minimum per capita for all members of existing GCIU local unions and district councils (and their successors) in right to work (for less) states be $5 through Dec. 31, 2011. Tedeschi said this would "provide a big boost to our organizing and membership drives in those states."

The General Board vote was taken after the board officially met for four days from June 7 to 9 and June 30. On June 7 and 8, board members examined the proposed 33-page merger agreement line by line. Teamsters Gen. Counsel Patrick J. Szymanski and Richard Bell, executive assistant to the Teamsters general secretary, attended the June 7 and 8 sessions to answer questions.

It was agreed that the board members would meet again in June with a parliamentarian present to settle parliamentary questions.

Victor Kamber, president of the Kamber Group public relations firm that promotes organized labor issues, an attorney and university professor, and a certified parliamentarian who has served as a parliamentarian for more than 20 AFL-CIO affiliate unions, attended the June 30 session.

The same majority that voted for the merger voted that the merger resolution could not be reconsidered.

After the votes were taken, Hurley asked that the records show her support in a spirit of more unity. Kamber ruled that her vote could not be changed because the resolution could not be reconsidered but that it could be recorded that she supported the action of the board majority.

Tedeschi appointed a board subcommittee in October 2002 to determine the best action to take to protect the members' long-term interests. The subcommittee was charged with examining whether the GCIU should seek a merger partner, and, if so, with which international union. Because of unrelenting declines in membership from plant closures, the subcommittee recommended that the GCIU seek a merger partner.

A General Board majority voted March 3 to seek a merger agreement with the Teamsters. Official merger discussions were launched by GCIU and IBT representatives shortly thereafter.

Correll said at the June 9 session that, because the GCIU is in an 8 percent membership decline, there is no choice but that the GCIU merge with another international union or cease to exist.

Tedeschi said in a June 30 news release: "We believe this is a positive step for the GCIU. By merging with the Teamsters, we will acquire the resources and strength of a 1.4-million member organization. This will help our members at the bargaining table, in organizing, and in the political arena."

Teamsters Pres. Jim Hoffa said in the same news release: "The GCIU is a great union with a proud history. Like the GCIU, the Teamsters believe that pooling resources in this manner is the best path to a stronger future for labor."

General Board members meet with International Brotherhood of Teamsters Gen. Counsel Patrick J. Szymanski and Richard Ball, executive assistant to the IBT general secretary, to discuss the agreement, if adopted by the GCIU voting members, to merge the GCIU with the IBT effective Jan. 1, 2005. At the front table, from left, are: GCIU counsel Martin R. Ganzglass, GCIU Secy.-Treas. Gerald H. Deneau, GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi, Szymanski, and Ball.