BALTIMORE — Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa spoke about transportation labor unity in the afternoon session on June 30 at the 67th annual Eastern Union Meeting Association of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
(A segment of President Hoffa’s speech at the EUMA is available for download from the BLE website. See links below.)
In his speech, President Hoffa laid out the benefits of the potential merger between the BLE and IBT. He said that corporate bullies are attacking unions from every direction and that unity is a way to “stop them in their tracks.”
“Companies are willing to sacrifice American workers for a few dollars,” said President Hoffa. “American workers are suffering.”
President Hoffa described the issues that BLE and Teamsters are facing together, including remote control and raids by another organization.
He also noted that transportation unity has long been a dream of the Teamsters, in particular his father.
“My father, James R. Hoffa, had a vision of one union representing all transportation workers,” said President Hoffa. “That is my dream also. I am a second generation Teamster and we talked labor around the dinner table as I was growing up.”
Like all BLE members and Teamsters, President Hoffa said he is proud of his background and the deep traditions of his union. He said unity is the best way to preserve this heritage.
“I am proud of my heritage as a working person,” President Hoffa said. “As I look around this room, I see that we share much in common. We are all working people. We share the same values and we also share the same challenges.
“Every day, there are people working in Congress to take away what you have — there are people on Capitol Hill working against the Teamsters right now. The only way to survive this is to be united.”
President Hoffa paid particular attention to the courage of BLE International President Don M. Hahs and the BLE Advisory Board for bringing the idea of the merger to the Teamsters.
“My hat is off to Don Hahs and the rest of the Advisory Board because they had the courage to start talking with the Teamsters,” said President Hoffa. “The BLE is a pioneer because now we are talking to other rail unions. The BLE is leading the way.”
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