Photos by Herald Grandstaff

Donald W. Crowe, St. Louis 6-505M secretary-treasurer, left, receives a plaque from Specialty/Southern Conference Ralph M. Meers, Atlanta 527S president, for 12 years of service as Specialty Conference vice president for the Mountain Region. A union member 28 years, Crowe has served for 24 years as a local officer.

Delegates attending the North American Specialty and Southern conferences heard rules about electing GCC/IBT local union delegates to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters convention in June and reports including an outlook for the paper and packaging industries and a safety and health seminar.

And every winner of 50-50 drawings contributed their winnings–totaling approximately $500–to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

Ralph M. Meers, president of the conferences, as well as host local Atlanta 527S, said that Joseph Molinaro, director of the Teamsters Newspaper Division, GCC/IBT Pres. George Tedeschi, and GCC/IBT Vice Pres. David Grabhorn were "very helpful" in putting the conference together.

Tedeschi, who lamented the Hurricane Katrina disaster and a lack of federal government response, advised conference delegates that he had "great news"–that the GCC/IBT had just won a representation vote by Quebecor World workers in Versailles, Ky.

He noted that the victory was the second in quick succession at a Quebecor World plant–the first being in Fernley, Nev.–since the neutrality agreement was signed with Quebecor World officials.

Tedeschi gave the delegates background about how the wide-spread campaign came about in response to the treatment of workers by Quebecor World management. He emphasized that, a week after votes were counted for the GCIU-IBT merger, he was contacted by Quebecor World to "sit down and talk." Tedeschi indicated that the neutrality agreement was being ignored by Quebecor World until the GCIU merged with the Teamsters.

Regarding the back-to-back Quebecor World victories, Tedeschi said: "We're on a roll, and there's no way . . . they're going to stop us," Tedeschi said.

He noted, however, that it is "disheartening" that very few local unions are applying to the General Board for 50 percent organizing rebates.

Election supervisor Richard Mark notes that GCC delegates to the June IBT Convention must be elected by local unions according to the Teamsters constitution he holds, as well as rules agreed to by the IBT in 1988.

Maureen Garaghty, assistant election supervisor, answers questions.

LaMont Byrd, director of the IBT Safety and Health Department, describes services available to local unions.

Joseph Molinero, director of the IBT Newspaper Division, tells delegates: "...you and your families have a bright future with the Teamsters."

GCC/IBT Pres. George Tedeschi advises that the GCIU-IBT merger "is working very well."

GCC/IBT Vice Pres. David A. Grabhorn provides some history about the Specialty segment's heritage.

Atlanta 527S Secy. James Parker, involved in organized labor since 1962, cites a need to organize the unorganized.

Albany-Schnectady 259M Pres. James F. Quick advises how photos of informational picket line published in the Graphic Communicator inspire the employer to negotiate a new contract.

Regarding the GCIU-IBT merger, he said "it is working very well" because of the resources that are now available–as evidenced by various Teamsters presentations at the Specialty/Southern conference.

Tedeschi urged locals to join IBT joint district councils because of their "strength." He said locals can negotiate the services they want–and pay for–based on the local's needs. "Just parking a Teamsters [semi tractor-trailer] truck in front of an employer site drives the employer nuts," he said.

Concerning local union mergers, Tedeschi urged local leaders to consolidate their strength and resources. "I gave up my kingdom" [as Nassau 406C president], he said, to run in 1999 for GCIU president. He said local leaders should likewise be willing to give up their "kingdoms" to combine locals.

Regarding the split by several international unions from the AFL-CIO to form the Change to Win Coalition, Tedeschi said: "We can make it work if we want to make it work."

Molinero said that prior to the GCIU merger with the IBT, he "had no idea what a specialty worker was. However, once I was enlightened as to what you do, I was truly amazed at the type and amount of specialized manufacturing jobs that this unit was involved in–corrugated boxes, trays and file boxes, fiber drums, plastic cans and drums, printing on metal cans, folding cartons for soft drinks and milk, beer, bakery, and frozen food cartons; silkscreen printing, plastic hospital and surgical supplies, inks for printing, and many other products too numerous to mention.

"This tells me about the great diversity of the GCC and how this proved our point–that we were a perfect fit for the merger. We, ourselves, are a union of diversity," Molinaro said.

He said he has "40 years as a member or officer in the Teamsters and have served in various elected or appointed positions for the past 25 years at Teamsters Local 211 or the International."

Molinaro said "the thing I am most proud of was the appointment by General Pres. [Jim] Hoffa to the GCIU/IBT Merger Committee. He gave me the opportunity to meet some of the best and brightest union officers I have seen in quite some time–Ralph Meers and David Grabhorn. And one in particular I am proud to call my friend is your president–George Tedeschi."

He said that Tedeschi "showed me what true leadership is. During the merger talks, he never made a decision without the members' best interests in mind." Molinaro said this is "evidenced by the merger document itself. It is by far the best I have ever seen–and I have been around a long time."

Molinaro said he has met or known every Teamsters president since Jimmy Hoffa and has "experienced the good years and the bad years" of the union. "I can tell you," Molinaro said, "the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is under the best leadership since James R. Hoffa–Jim's father." Molinaro said that the younger Hoffa and General Secy.-Treas. Thomas Keegel "are the best–ever."

He said that "you have your autonomy . . . , your own secure pensions, and you have security at the workplace. But most importantly, you and your families have a bright future with the Teamsters."

Molinaro suggested that GCC/IBT locals can avail the services of the IBT's departments: Research, Health and Safety, Government Affairs, Education, Organizing, and Strategic Initiatives. He suggested a phone call to IBT headquarters at (202) 624-6800: "Ask for the appropriate department, and they will connect you to the right person."

Regarding collective bargaining advice, Molinaro suggested contacting Richard J. Whitworth, executive assistant to the GCC/IBT president, at (202) 462-1400. He said Whitworth will decide whether the caller needs to be referred to another office.

Molinaro noted that the GCC and Teamsters union are inviting each other to conferences and division meetings as visitors to "introduce each other on a more personal basis."

"As a single union," Molinaro said, "we'll have the strength and power we'll need to build the kind of future our families deserve. We'll be better positioned to win good contracts, keep dues down, and protect our pensions."

"With the labor movement facing declining membership and an increasing anti-union political and legal environment," he added, "the timing of our partnership couldn't be more critical.

"The power of our new, bigger, stronger union will help us rebuild our movement. Together, we'll work to build strength and security for our members. Together, we'll work to organize the unorganized and increase union density and bargaining power in the printing and specialty industry. Together, we'll work to build power for workers at the bargaining table, in the workplace, and in the community. It may sound like a cliche, but we truly are stronger together," Molinero said.

Regarding political action, Chuck Harpel, assistant director of IBT's Government Affairs, suggested that people support candidates who are friendly to working men and women–without rejecting them because of "social issues. We need to go at it with just bread and butter issues" that concern union workers.

Harpel said that the Teamsters leadership gave the Government Affairs Department the resources to send 600 people as "lost time advocates" throughout the United States to work on the 2004 election.

He noted that, with sufficient efforts to educate Sen. John Kerry, he changed his position as supporting free trade and voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Harpel cited the IBT supporting a Democrat to win a House of Representatives seat in a tough campaign only for the representative to vote for CAFTA.

Harpel indicated there have been too many cases where money has been "thrown away" to support candidates who are elected only to then vote against the best interests of working men and women.

He said that this was one of the main reasons for Hoffa to lead a contingent of unions to disaffiliate from the AFL-CIO and form the Change to Win Coalition is to use resources more for organizing than for supporting politicians who are too often unreliable.

LaMont Byrd, director of the Teamsters Safety and Health Department, said that GCC/IBT members work in environments that "represent more traditional health and safety and industrial hygiene work" because of exposures to the various products they use in production.

He said if a local union needs contract language regarding such issues as drug and alcohol testing, his department can provide model language–along with a wide range of resources that include materials sampling.

Atlanta 527S members Dale Cartwright, left, and Eddie Williams conduct a concentrated safety and health seminar for North American Speciality and Southern Conference delegates.

Byrd said his staff works closely with the Government Affairs staff to keep track of pending legislation and how it may impact on workers. His department also works closely with the Organizing Department.

If local leaders need to know how a safety and health rule works, he and his staff should be contacted at IBT headquarters.

There is a wide range of technical support that the Safety and Health Department can also provide, Byrd indicated.

A condensed saftey and health course was given to conference delegates by Local 527S members Dale Cartwright and Eddie Williams.

Ali Tejada, senior IBT Research Department analyst, presents an overview of supply and demand in the paper and wood products industry.

Ali Tejada, senior analyst in the IBT Research Department, gave an exhaustive presentation about trends in paper and packaging products–ranging from prices to demand. She showed charts and graphs and distributed hand-outs of the information.

During the course of IBT presentations, Meers observed that resources available to the GCC/IBT are "extremely beneficial to us."

Local delegate elections

Richard Mark, election supervisor, and Maureen Geraghty, his assistant, explained minute details involved for GCC/IBT local unions to elect delegates for the Teamsters convention, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in June.

Mark said that because of the GCIU-IBT merger, GCC/IBT locals must elect delegates for the Teamsters convention–even though delegates were elected for the 2004 GCIU Convention and delegates are elected for four years. Teamsters Convention delegates cannot be just appointed by GCC/IBT locals, he said, adding that this is under an agreement that the Teamsters union made with the U.S. Justice Department in 1988.

Official rules for electing IBT convention delegates are published in this issue of the Graphic Communicator.

Concerning coordinated bargaining, Grabhorn advised delegates about the Specialty segment's history of having coordinated bargaining 50 years ago. He said coordinated bargaining and coordinated campaigns should be used again.

A strong supporter of the GCIU merger with the Teamsters, Grabhorn said that the union is "building bridges" with the IBT and that it is clear that the GCC has been fully accepted into the Teamsters fold.

He said that "for the first time I can remember, we have a real opportunity" with the merger to accomplish such objectives as coordinated bargaining and coordinated campaigns.

Grabhorn said that 50 years from now, members can look back and note the wisdom of the GCIU merging with the IBT.

St. Louis 6-505M Secy.-Treas. Donald W. Crowe told delegates that, although the local opposed the GCIU-IBT merger, the local is accepting the merger, "and we will move forward."

Regarding psychological warfare with an employer, Local 259M Pres. James F. Quick reported success from informational picket line photos being published in the Graphic Communicator. He said no headway could be made and that the contract had not been renewed for 2-1/2 years. Negotiations, he said, "broke down" last year.

With the help of two Teamsters locals, Local 259M had an informational picket line on July 5 in front of the Rome Sentinel newspaper office. Quick said the publisher came out of his office, saw the pickets, and then went back into his office and locked the door.

Quick provided some photos of the picket line to the Graphic Communicator that were published in the recent issue. A copy of the issue was left for the publisher to see. Quick learned that the photos upset the publisher. Within three weeks, Quick said, Local 259M had a wage agreement to send to Rep. Joseph M. O'Connor, who assisted the local with negotiations. A contract was then ratified by Local 259M members, with the employer paying workers an additional $15 a week in back pay, Quick noted.

Quick said that O'Connor "scared" the publisher by warning that "we'll have Teamsters trucks the next time."

Joseph Inemer, Philadelphia 16N secretary, says he thinks the GCIU-IBT merger "will make us stronger and better."