CLEVELAND, February 25 — BLET members have been on the front lines of the battle to protect the rights of union workers in Wisconsin and Ohio.
In Ohio, BLET National President Dennis Pierce, First Vice President Lee Pruitt, and National Legislative Representative John Tolman traveled from National Division headquarters in Cleveland to a massive pro-union rally in Columbus, Ohio, on February 22.
They were joined by Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Hanely and other BLET members from Ohio, including: Bob Hagan, Division 757; J.D. Scott, Local Chairman of Division 34; Jeff Murray, President & Legislative Representative of Division 34; Ed Evans, Vice Local Chairman of Division 34; and Jim Blum, Legislative Representative of Division 526 (Willard, Ohio).
“It was a charging event,” Brother Scott said. “It brought thousands of like-minded people together at the same time. The solidarity was phenomenal.”
The rally was to protest Ohio Senate Bill 5, which would make it virtually impossible for Ohio’s public employees to negotiate fair union contracts with their employers. If passed, the bill would outlaw collective bargaining for state employees and higher education employees.
Brother Hagan is a State Senator in Ohio, and was able to arrange a face-to-face meeting between President Pierce, First Vice President Pruitt and VP & NLR Tolman and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin State Legislative Board Chairman Tony Dimond said the Board brought a contingent of BLET members to participate in the Wisconsin rallies, protesting efforts by a Republican-controlled statehouse to gut union worker rights.
“The basis of the rallies in Madison has shifted from wages and benefits to combating the direct assaults by a Republican administration on the basic collective bargaining rights of labor,” said Paul Aird, 1st Vice Chairman of the Wisconsin State Legislative Board, who was an active participant in rallies in Madison.
Wisconsin Central General Chairman John Reynolds also reported that dozens of members from his General Committee of Adjustment have participated in the Madison solidarity rallies. Among those in attendance at rallies in Wisconsin were Justin N. Johnson, 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Wisconsin State Legislative Board, and Eric Stratten.
Nationwide, Teamster members are participating in more than 100 rallies in 38 states this week.
President Pierce said it was clear that the Wisconsin and Ohio governors — who also turned down millions of dollars in high speed rail funding from the Department of Transportation — were attacking unions on behalf of wealthy corporate interests who contributed largely to their election campaigns. He also asked BLET members to visit the Teamster website (www.teamster.org/content/stopthewaronworkers) and get involved in a rally in their area.
“I want to thank all BLET members who took time from their busy schedules to stand up for the rights of American workers,” President Pierce said. “This is a critical juncture for the labor movement. I encourage all BLET members to continue getting involved and standing up for what is right.”