(The Detroit Free Press posted the following article on its website on May 15.)
LAS VEGAS — International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James Hoffa began the union’s first-ever conference devoted to recruiting new members and growing the union.
“The Teamsters must focus all of our energy on organizing,” Hoffa said in Las Vegas. “When we have a high percentage of workers in an industry we get good contracts. The equation is simple — more members equals better contracts.”
More than 1,400 union leaders and activists from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico are expected for the conference. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers also attended. The BLE and Teamsters are currently finalizing merger talks, with more than 35,000 BLE members expected to vote on the merger in the near future.