Photo courtesty of IBT

James P. Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president, right, welcomes Graphic Communications Conference/IBT Pres. George Tedeschi to an IBT meeting.

A majority of Graphic Communications International Union members voted to merge the GCIU with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Vote results are in this issue.) The GCIU became an autonomous conference of the IBT effective Jan. 1, 2005.

Ballots asking whether the GCIU should merge with the Teamsters were mailed to members in November. The counting of ballots was completed by the GCIU Board of Electors Dec. 7.

GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi said he was "extremely gratified that a majority of our active members showed the wisdom and foresight to approve merger with an excellent AFL-CIO sister union. We know that by becoming an IBT conference, the GCIU will have a powerful new alliance for organizing and negotiating decent wages and benefits for our members."

Tedeschi added that the GCIU's "successful merger will provide new power and resources to ensure that Quebecor World, as well as other workers, win the right to organize a union free from harassment, intimidation, and coercion. With the tremendous resources of the Teamsters, we are confident that we can win justice for all workers in the printing and paper products industries."

Teamsters General Pres. Jim Hoffa observed: "This is an historic moment for the GCIU and the Teamsters. Graphic communications workers exemplify quality work and the belief that workers deserve fair treatment in the workplace–fundamental traits of the labor movement and principles that guide the Teamsters union. This merger will strengthen both unions and allow us to better provide workers with real power on the job and in the political arena."

According to the merger agreement, Tedeschi and other officers will continue to serve GCIU members in their current offices. The GCIU will become an autonomous conference within the Teamsters union, allowing the GCIU and its locals to maintain their autonomy and identity–including authority over their contracts.

In early February, General Board members voted to change the merged union's name to the Graphic Commendations Conference/IBT.

The GCIU was the third union to join with the Teamsters union in 2004.

In January, many Canadian local unions, the Canadian vice president, a General Board member, an International representative, and the lead Canadian organizer left the Graphic Communications Conference/IBT. However, the majority of Canadian members became members of the GCC/IBT.

The GCC/IBT, Tedeschi added, "is clearly looking forward to breathing new life into our union with our new, powerful partner–the largest of the AFL-CIO affiliates–with 1.4 million members."

Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

GCIU Board of Electors tally ballots after GCIU members vote whether to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. From left are: Omaha 543M Pres. Richard Conn, New York 447S Pres. John Hall, San Francisco 583M Pres. Lee Lahtinen, BOE secretary; Montreal 41M Secy. Denis Fournier, Atlanta 8M Pres. Dale W. Harrell, BOE chairman; Washington Court House Pres. Brenda K. Eggleton, and Newark 7N Pres. Edward Shown.