Teamsters Local 767 Election Tracker

Scott Wallace is living proof that nice guys don’t finish last. His handle, “Hammer,” was given to him by fellow drivers in the feeder department based upon his ability to seek justice until it was served — no matter what.

During his twenty plus years as a Teamster, Scott has worked as a package car driver as well as a feeder driver, filling steward positions in both classifications. I followed him recently as he campaigned in Denton for the Members First Slate and watched as driver after driver stopped to shake his hand and give him a hug after their routes ended.

One of them told me, “This guy? I owe my job to him. There are A LOT of guys out here who, if it hadn’t been for Scott being in our center as long as he was, wouldn’t have made it through to the next level.”

Wallace dismisses comments like that, though, by insisting, “I never have ‘gotten a guy his job back’. Wesley Jenkins and John Shorts have never ‘gotten a guy his job back’ either. It’s the contract that is responsible for that. I can’t take credit for it because the language is already there in black and white.”

You have to be able to enforce it, right, Scott?

“Exactly, and that is the biggest reason why we need to negotiate even stronger contracts. The more solid they are, the easier it is to present the case. One of the problems with the current leadership, though, is how they’re allowing grievances to be settled for pennies on the dollar regardless of what the actual language dictates. For instance, if you have an over-nine-five issue, there is no reason why you should accept less that what the contract states. The language is there. It’s that simple. If you have a strong contract, you shouldn’t have to settle for bad representation.”

What are you doing to prepare for your position as Secretary-Treasurer of not only the largest Teamster local in Texas, but also one with such an available surplus of funds?

“Naturally, one of the very first steps I’ve initiated is to reach out to the IBT. People need to understand we’re not going to be blindsided here. Our slate has already developed a relationship with the International so that we have everything we need, the training we need, the contact numbers, everything. A full audit will be done, and the local membership along with International auditors will know exactly where we’re all at. In addition, we will request that no large amounts of money be spent between the time we win until the time we take over. Believe me, it’s going to be handled by a team of qualified individuals who have a lot of experience in dealing with instances like the one we’re in right now. That is certain.

“As far as the ‘surplus of funds’ you mentioned, I want my brothers and sisters to understand we as a membership can take this money the local’s current executive board has not properly allocated into secure, lucrative investments and use those funds to increase our nest egg while also using it to help further our great cause. What is the good in having almost two million dollars when our members are going without? There is no logic in that. Let’s have the members decide how they want to utilize their funds. Let’s use it to allow them to participate again. Let’s take them to panel. Let’s create a realistic organizing budget for internal and external operations. Let’s use it to help our veterans and the families of our veterans. Let’s put it to use in the community with programs designed to promote our organization as a charitable, hard-working group of people so that we can once again, in return, gain the support of our local areas. We want the people who work in our communities and who are not yet Teamsters to see what we’re doing and want to join our union as well. It doesn’t take much to achieve those goals; we just have to be willing to volunteer, connect with one another, and work as a team. I need the membership to be involved in every decision that affects us directly. I want members to feel proud to pay dues again.”

So, be specific, Scott: As the Secretary-Treasurer, what ideas do you have for increasing our local’s earnings?

“First of all, I have no intentions of spending a dime without gaining advice — as I have been doing — from numerous financial institutions and private investors. There are a lot of ways to secure our assets that we’re just not incorporating. Right now, we’re allowing our funds to stagnate and collect without making a great deal of money in return. It’s got to change. This is a lot of cash we’re talking about here, and there’s no reason why we haven’t taken steps to create a budget for it. It’s amazing, actually. The local should be investing more of its money into safe, private investments — just like every other company or individual with that sort of financial standing would do — and not just utilize it on things like bonds, which have a far lower rate on returns. Furthermore, I am holding the local itself accountable for other changes when we take office. There will be no more living high on the hog with out-of-town meal and hotel and travel expenses. I have witnessed the way our current administration eats when it goes out — just giving you one example here — and think it’s ridiculous how frivolously the money is spent on things like that. I’d rather take a team of stewards out to breakfast for a group meeting than pay for three of our BAs to have expensive room service or a formal meal with management at the panel on the local’s dime. People will know exactly where we are spending the money every month instead of listening to a vague version of the finance report. If there’s a question, I want the members to ask; they need to be informed. It’s their money. If you need us to show you what’s going on, hey, just grab an executive officer of your choice, and we’ll have a meeting right then or when it’s convenient to you. It’s that important. Members need to be involved, informed, and that’s a big part of what I want to change in all aspects of this election, including the financial facet.”

On the campaign trail at UPS Dallas

So what else would you like to change? What are you going to bring to the local that the other guys haven’t accomplished?

“We asked the current leaders about their community involvement during the debate. The answer we got was about handing out t-shirts at UPS hubs once a year and building a new union hall with a big neon sign. That isn’t community involvement as far as I am concerned. I want fifty people in Teamsters shirts standing there at the airport cheering for our armed forces as they return from duty. I want those people to know we support them. I want to host fundraisers where our members volunteer their time so we can raise funds for charities that directly affect our members — much like what Billy has done in the past on his own and with our local for charity golf tournaments. I want to take our involvement in the communities to the next level, way beyond just passing a hat every once in a while at the meetings. We need to take care of one another and remember this is a brotherhood again. I don’t want to be strangers with our membership.

“I have a lot of other changes to list off. You ready?”

Shoot.

“Can you tell I’m really excited about all of this? I’m telling you, I can’t wait to get started. I really can’t. I keep waking up at night with all of these ideas — one after another — that I really want to run across the other executive board candidates. I just keep thinking about all the good we can do for all these people who keep coming up to me when we campaign and sharing their stories and their impressions of what needs to be done and — wait — I’m going on and on here. You’re not going to put this in your interview, are you?”

That you’re excited to help people who are members of this local? Of course, I am. That counts as a change, right?

(Laughing) “I guess it does! Look, people are going to see a lot of differences. The active stewards will receive training in the facility as well as at the hall. We want the stewards to be more involved in the hearing process, whether it’s at panel or at the building. We’re going to be in the shops, like leadership should be, on a frequent basis. If you are unhappy with the way something was handled, I want you to let me know. I never want anyone to be afraid to question something I’ve done because this job isn’t about me — it’s about us all. Part of being a good officer of the local should be knowing how to listen and implement the needs of your membership to serve your brothers and sisters more efficiently. When people quit listening, nothing gets accomplished.”

So why are you running?

“When I came to the Mesquite hub from Denton, I was surprised to see how out of control such a major hub could be. I was thinking there would be a lot more union representation given the amount of business that travels through that facility. Not so. In fact, we were without representation from the local much worse than any of the other smaller locations I’d seen. Grievances weren’t being handled properly and were being settled for far less than the language guaranteed. That’s what we pay for — the language. I wondered why it wasn’t being upheld. Then I noticed just about every other issue was also prevalent: supervisors working constantly without any reprimand from the company or the local, no regard for seniority or for coverage board drivers, etc. You want to know something insane? After I decided I was going to run, that’s when I found out a lot of other information about what’s really happening at the local, and now more than ever I am very happy I elected to take part in this campaign. I would hate to see things continue the way they are headed with the current leadership. I feel like a change must be met, and a team of individuals had to step forward in order to make that happen. So that’s what I did. I stepped forward, and I’m glad we’ve had this opportunity already. I’ve met so many good Teamsters I would have never probably met from all over if I hadn’t come on board with Members First. In a sense, that’s like winning already. This campaign has been a huge success for sure.”

Scott, today I saw you in the parking lot of the Dallas UPS hub talking to people about this election. You were in Denton last night, right?

“Right. I can’t remember the last time I got more than three hours of sleep. I know it was before the campaign started. I’m doing everything it takes to get our message to our brothers and sisters everywhere so they’ll understand how incredibly important their votes are if they really want to see improvement. If I’m not at the work sites, I’m on the phone with the IBT or financial advisers or members who saw my name on the fliers we’ve handed out. I have time for everybody even if it means I have to sleep in my truck in order to be where I need to be when I need to be there. This isn’t about me. Remember that. It’s about members first, hence the name of our slate. We’re proving that through our actions before we’re even elected.”

Anything else?

“Yes, please let people know they can contact me anytime through the website or at my telephone number, which is located on our website as well. And tell them I can’t wait for January 2010.”

If anyone has got a more genuine smile than Scott Wallace, I’d be surprised. This is one candidate who is truly after the interests of the membership and can’t wait to get the ball rolling.

For more information, please visit the Members First official website here.