Category Archives: Volunteer for Charity with Members First and Teamsters

The Presidential Billy Smith

Earlier this morning, I dialed the number listed on the Members First website for its presidential candidate Billy Smith. Within about five seconds, Billy was on the other end of the phone asking me what the people in my work area need from his slate once Members First takes office. He stressed, “Every hub, every work place, every member faces different issues. What I would like is for all of our brothers and sisters to begin the communication process as soon as possible so our transition will be smoother in January.” After sharing some concerns relevant to my work assignment, I told him, “…but what I really called about was to ask you to explain this flier for the other slate I picked up at DFW.”

“I know you’ve put together a website, and I’ll be happy to answer your questions, but what I don’t want is a bunch of mud-slinging. Let’s be clear: I want to keep things as friendly as possible so the members won’t have to wade through any more distraction than what they’re already dealing with. I’m running for office, not to disgrace anyone’s personal character, so if you’re looking for a negative reaction about any opposing slate’s flier, I can’t give you that.”

Very presidential. I was definitely impressed.

BAMF

This is what diplomacy looks like.

Last week, I entered a break room at DFW’s UPS just as one of Wesley Jenkins’ business agents was finishing placing campaign information, which supported the current president’s slate, on our tables — a labor violation considering the agent not only used his security pass to gain access into a restricted area that most opposing slate members are prohibited from entering, but also because he was there on official union business, which is paid for by all members. This business agent happens to be the very same individual who willingly showed a group of members another worker’s private grievance form in 2003, thus causing our entire local to pay for yet another very costly re-election process. I was upset to see he was yet again disobeying labor election laws and wanted to have a closer look at whatever this important document was that he was risking his reputation in order to distribute.

Sadly, as I partially expected, it was not campaign literature discussing any of the positive accomplishments our leaders have achieved. Instead, the fliers trashed presidential candidate Brother Smith in a barrage of lies and half-truths in a manner inconsistent with our Oaths of Obligation. Perhaps, it is because of allowing unprofessionalism like this that our president was voted off the Joint Council 80. It certainly didn’t seem brotherly to say the least.

Billy won’t comment on the above topic “out of respect for the other candidates,” but he did take a few moments to answer some of my other questions, which I mostly lifted from the opposing slate’s questionnaire.

Q: First of all, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. The other slate claims they are “running on [their] experience.” What do you think about that, and what’s your slate “running on”?

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It’s time for Teamsters Local 767 to honor our women and men and families of the U.S. Armed Forces.

In 2006, UPS violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) when it refused to allow Brent Camp, a longtime Marine and high seniority, part-time UPS ramp employee, to come back to work after his second deployment to Iraq expired. After months of requesting assistance from Teamsters Local 767, Brent turned to his Judge Advocate General (JAG) for military legal enforcement of the labor law. As it turned out, there was a simple mix-up in paperwork, and the matter was cleared up shortly after he contacted military counsel. It was the last thing Brent needed after having dedicated many years of his life to serving our country and American way of life, which includes UPS’s freedom to operate in a capitalist economy as well as workers’ rights to choose unionization. Sadly, our local initially failed Brent in its lax approach to resolving the violation, but he’s not letting that stop him. Brent wants to make sure his Teamster brothers and sisters who are veterans and families of Teamster veterans are not forgotten.

When Billy Smith and candidates from the Members First slate learned about Brent’s story, they were shocked. Billy stressed, “That is exactly the sort of thing that reinforces my decision to head this slate. My family has heavily decorated military personnel in its history, and I would never do anything to disservice an individual who served our country — regardless of anything. The women and men who serve in our military are extended family, as far as I am concerned, whether they are Teamsters or not.”

When the Members First slate takes office, look for your opportunity to participate in the Veteran Appreciation Committee. This is your chance to make a difference within the community and to interact with those who have risked their lives so that we can carry the Teamster torch at home. Brent Camp will be heading up volunteer programs to show support to troops overseas as well as those returning home. He will also need your help in various programs to send packages to troops and their families. Please contact Brent directly so that he can add you to the list of supporters:   brent.camp[at]sbcglobal.net    (replace “[at]” with @). You can also contact Billy, Scott, Carlos, and the rest of the Members First 2009 slate here.

The time is now to show these men and women, as well as their families, that Teamsters Local Union 767 stands in solidarity and support of all they do for us. We want to see pages like this on our official Teamsters website! We want people of our local to understand the important military history of our Teamsters. With nationwide Teamster programs like Helmets to Hardhats, there is no doubt of the heavy relationship between the American servicemen and servicewomen and the American workers.