Teamsters Local 767 Election Tracker

Join the ranks of those who support the vote for Members First today. The lists of volunteers and campaign organizers are growing as election day nears. Be a part of the celebration as Billy Smith, Scott Wallace, Carlos Rios, David Varela, Jimmy Lyon, Bill Bagwell, and Brandon Santana bring solidarity back to your local.

T-Bone from UPS Mesquite Feeders has been around forever, and he’s seen a thing or two in his day. It’s safe to say he’s voting Members First all the way, and he wants you to do the same. Oh, and, sisters, he’s got a special offer for you (sorry, guys):

Who can refuse a deal like that? I’ll throw in a wig for any guys who want to ride T-Bone’s bike, too. He won’t know the difference, I promise.

Weber Aircraft’s Judy and Ted Westmoreland voted Members First. Judy, who does the Weber newsletter, says that Weber needs more representation from our Teamsters local. She and Ted have put their trust and support into the Members First slate and are counting on YOU to send in your ballot, too.

“Bigfoot” Bill Bagwell, UPS Feeders Dallas/Trustee candidate, and “Triple J” Jesse Jacinto, UPS Feeders Mesquite, support the Members First slate.

Ronnie Clark, UPS Mesquite Feeders, has dedicated his free time to campaigning for the Members First slate. Thanks, Ronnie. It takes one and all, Brother.

Lorraine Smith is voting Members First because she says things MUST change inside Weber Aircraft. She is unhappy with the current contractual language and hopes Billy Smith and Members First will be able to make a difference in how she feels about her job security. She has a strong union home and wants a strong union presence at work as well. (P.S. Hope you found your safety glasses, Lorraine!)

Steve Johnson, UPS Feeders Mesquite, has been a volunteer for Billy Smith and the Members First slate since before the word “Go.” Steve is one heck of a Teamster and believes we can move forward as a membership with better leadership. Steve, thanks for everything you’ve done for us –your brothers and sisters, and keep spreading the word. Yes, we can!

Denton Package Car Driver and Steward Dave Colley votes Members First. He says, “Go, Teamsters! I wouldn’t be a steward if I didn’t think it was a bad*ss cause, and Scott is a super cool guy!” Thanks, Dave.

Micah Sutherland, a part-time employee from Denton, says he supports Members First because: “They’re real, down-to-earth guys. Those other guys with the local came down here to campaign in their dress slacks and business clothes like they’d forgotten they were representing blue collar workers. Billy and his guys aren’t afraid to be themselves, and I really like that. This is UPS, you know. We’re all working people — all of us.” Micah says he’s really liked following the campaign online and through Twitter because “technology is important and seems to be what a lot of the younger part-timers seem to relate to most. It’s, like, it includes us.” Micah also said his friend, who signed up for union membership, had been requesting a copy of the contract, but was told they’d “get one to him later on.” After getting tired of waiting, Micah’s co-worker said, “I can just use someone else’s, I guess.” Scott Wallace ran to his truck, grabbed an extra contract book, and handed it to its new owner. There is never a reason why any member should go without a copy of the bargaining agreement.

Craig Curtis, Executive Board Trustee/former business agent/longtime UPS mechanic and shop steward, has stepped down from his executive role in order to support new leadership within the local by the Members First slate and Billy Smith. Brother Curtis walked picket lines with members from Weber Aircraft and Allied Waste, represented the local during heated negotiations with Weber when the members at that facility won their previous solid contract, and served as a successful business agent as well as a trustee for many years. Craig insists the time for change is now more than ever. He wants every concerned 767 Teamster to: “Take your pen with you to the mailbox and fill in that box for Members First.”

UPS Package Car Driver Justin Box mailed his ballot already. He said, “Scott! I voted for you, man!” Thanks, Justin. Remind your co-workers to shade in the Members First box on that ballot and send it in.

Tim Kearney from UPS along with Willie Boone and Nacho Rodriguez, both from AWG, vote Members First. “Send in your votes for Billy Smith and the Members First slate! That’s what we’re telling everybody in the warehouse right now. It’s time for a change.”

Carlos Rico, Cesar Lira, and Oscar Luis from Allied Waste voted Members First. “It took those guys over in the office months and months to get us copies of the contract we signed this spring. Then Wesley Jenkins thanked himself inside of it and wrote that it couldn’t have been won without his true guidance and leadership! How arrogant is THAT??? He even put his own name in bold letters like we would see that and think we owed him something when we, the members and the IBT reps, were the ones who put all the work into everything with the contract and the strike and the de-certs we went through. On top of that, they [the Experienced slate] put this messed up garbage truck that’s not even ours on the front. Our trucks are blue Allied trucks. The guys in another city who work directly for Republic drive this green truck on the front of our contract. The contract is with us at Allied Waste. Have they not even seen what our equipment looks like? Vote Members First all the way.”

Roy Boland from Weber was happy to see his old agent Craig Curtis standing next to Billy Smith today. He said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had good representation out here — since Craig was here, actually! We’ve been ignored pretty much since then. We really have to get new leadership in the hall so Weber can get an agent like we should have — like when Craig was still around.”

Frankie Martinez, a longtime shifter driver in DFW, has been laid off like a lot of workers in his classification to a lesser-paying, part time position. He’s voting Members First. Frankie says, “It’s time to turn things around. We definitely need different leadership for our local so that we can get things done around here. It’s bad in the building, worse than ever.”

AWG is for Members First. We must help protect every contract more than ever. It’s extremely important that each of us shade in the Members First box, separate the return address information from the ballot itself, put and seal the ballot in the “secret envelope,” and make sure the separated address is placed in the envelope with the plastic windows so the address will show through. Mail them in today so that we can see a change in January 2010. Be proud to pay your dues with the Members First leadership.

Craig Curtis, UPS Steward and Mechanic and Local 767 Trustee and former business agent, on the campaign trail with Presidential candidate Billy Smith, Vice-Presidential candidate Carlos Rios, and Secretary-Treasurer candidate Scott Wallace.

Candidate for Trustee, Brandon Santana, stands united with DFW UPSer Scottie Lewis. Check out the Members First t-shirts one of the slate’s voters made for the team. Thanks! That’s exactly the kind of group effort that reunites and strengthens our Teamster family.

Sedric Wright and Nacho Rodriguez, from AWG, are PROUD Teamster brothers and supporters of Members First. “Tell the people to send those ballots back marked Members First right there in the middle.”

Juan, a driver from UPS Dallas, knows how important it is to receive proper representation when you’re injured at work. He is voting Members First: “I’ll be mailing that ballot the second I see it, best believe it. Members First! Tell everybody.”

Barry, a feeder driver in Dallas for UPS, supports the Members First slate with Scott Wallace, “I want to thank you guys for coming out. I’ll be putting that ballot in the mail right away. You got my vote!”

Billy Smith and Tim Kearney from UPS show support to fellow Teamster, Demetrius from AWG, who didn’t even know he could protest a warning letter after all of his time in service. Representation MUST get better so that we can help employees understand their rights.

Trustee candidate Bill Bagwell has a lot of support in Dallas Feeders. He’s reminding the members there to return ballots and stay focused until we can move forward again as a Teamster family in January 2010.

Brandon Grindstaff is another example of a good employee who has filed grievances only to have them ignored, delayed, and mishandled by local leadership. “It’s gotten so terrible inside, and no one will return my calls or give me any information. I have done my part, but the local has dropped the ball repeatedly. Am I ready for a change? YES. I am tired of working with people who don’t want to be in the union because they see nothing happening, no reason to join. Can you blame them? No. We pay dues. I want to be proud to pay dues and become more active, and not feel as if I’m doing all the work for no return. We need support out here. Members First, you got it.”

Bella Austin, Honorary Teamster Steward: “I’ve been around the union hall since I was a baby, and I have seen a lot of things happen to my mom and the people she works with. We signed people up to join the union together a lot, and I know that Teamsters are good people who work hard to help all the people who aren’t as lucky as I am. A lot of Teamsters have been a part of my family. I like Billy Smith. He called me on my phone tonight to thank me for helping him out, and that is so cool! Billy says he appreciates the way my mom has helped because it is going to make a difference if I want to be a Teamster one day. I really wish I could vote because if I could, I would vote for Billy Smith. He is a very nice man, and he’s a real Teamster, too.”

Billy Smith, Scott Wallace, and the Members First campaign team have stuck it out through super hot weather, cold and windy days, thunderstorms, flash floods, you-name-it to deliver the message: Help is on the way. Vote Members First to make it happen and return your ballot today!

Michelle Williams of UPS Dallas Package throws her support and her vote for Members First!

Brother Tim Clark speaks out on behalf of Members First and his concern for change.

Allied stands together in solidarity: VOTE MEMBERS FIRST.

Carlos Rios, candidate for Vice President, has secured the votes of DFW area package car drivers.

Sheila Thompson used to be a UPS TCD, but was affected by the layoffs in the company and has been bumped to an OCA position with less hours. She is tired of having grievances go unaddressed and unfairly settled. Sheila also says, “I feel so badly for those hundred plus workers at DFW whose combo jobs were just taken away from them. I can’t believe the union hasn’t fought harder to uphold the language in our contract. What’s happening here makes me sick. I am not only supporting Members First all the way, but I have also told everybody I know to vote for Billy Smith and that slate as well. SEND IN THE BALLOTS. They NEED every single vote.”

Carlos Rios, Karen Berry, and David Varela are ready for January 2010! Get out the vote for Members First today.

Allied Waste workers are happy to see their former 767 Teamster sister Sandra Jimenez, who now works for another local.

Brandon Santana, one of the affected UPS DFW combo workers, is ready to have the contract defended by people who are willing to represent him. He’s already voted Members First.

Drivers in UPS Arlington back the Members First slate in full force.

Carlos Rico, Allied Waste, and Kristan Austin, UPS Air Ramp Steward, stand TOGETHER for Members First.

The Bagwell Burger is a pretty fantastic thing. Can’t wait to have more cookouts when the guys take office in January 2010!

“Billy, Scott, Carlos, David, Bill, Jimmy, and Brandon are really committed to providing the members with professional leadership. My phone rings constantly these days with people who are excited about this election and wanting to know what they can do to help support Members First. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that Billy Smith and the rest of his slate stepped forward to redirect the course of our local. I have NEVER been so proud to be a Teamster as I have during the time I’ve spent campaigning with these brothers and sisters. There is a HUGE feeling of solidarity, compassion, and hope amongst this group, and I’m seeing the appreciation and encouragement from people who KNOW, as I do, what really happens at the union hall during office hours. We should treat one another with honesty, dignity, and respect instead of arrogance, exclusiveness, and abusive behavior. I voted Members First because I want to look at my paycheck and know my dues are REALLY going where they should instead of to anti-union hotel rooms and presidential salaries that are unfairly ‘earned’ year after year. We have the power. Hold this president accountable for the violating, immoral work ethic he’s demonstrated. Mark your ballot Members First, please, so we can correct the direction of our Teamster future and make progress again.” — Kristan Austin

Bill Bagwell, candidate for Trustee, meets with members tirelessly to support his slate.

UPS drivers everywhere are coming out of the woodwork to demonstrate that they want different leadership after this election. Members First is getting the vote out loud and proud everywhere.

Reynaldo Lopez is a real Teamster who speaks his mind! “We never see that Wesley Jenkins guy out here unless he wants to buy our vote. Get those guys outta there! Bring in the Members First!”

Brown Teamsters everywhere in the metroplex stand behind the leadership of Billy Smith.

Brandon Santana, candidate for Trustee, takes the time to speak with UPS combo workers who are tired of dealing with broken promises from the old guard.

Billy Smith and his slate: This is what democracy looks like.

The first meeting of the Members First supporters was very successful.

Scott Wallace, candidate for Sec. Tres., takes the time to speak with concerned UPS workers about layoffs and split shifts.

Jimmy Lyon, candidate for Trustee, listens to UPS feeder driver Brian Zettel.

Scott Wallace is willing to answer every question with the concern and dignity deserved. All members are created equal with Members First.

Hanging out with your trash guys is a blast. Members First and Allied Waste stand together.

Members First supporters are the ones who are active on a regular basis — not just during election time. Please get behind this slate and show them your vote!

Members First isn’t scared to get the message out, even in the freezing cold rain! VOTE. Be heard, one for all.

Cesar Lira supports Members First so much that he was willing to take a death defying campaign drive with Kristan Austin. That’s dedication.