(The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued the following news release on October 28.)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa urged hundreds of Teamsters to get out the vote for Senator John Kerry at site visits in Minneapolis today. The visit is part of a national swing-state campaign effort by Hoffa that will end on the East Coast on Election Day.
“John Kerry is the right candidate for America’s working families,” Hoffa told workers. “We need a President who will fight for good wages, affordable health care, fair trade, retirement and pension security and job safety.”
Hoffa, accompanied by Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel and International Vice Presidents Phil Young and Dotty Malinsky, met with Minneapolis-area members at an USF-Holland Freight terminal, a Certain-Teed roofing products plant and a Supervalu food warehouse. Mr. Hoffa also appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews from the Supervalu site.
The Teamsters Union endorsed Kerry in February and has implemented a national swing-state voter registration and turnout program, including efforts in Minnesota.
“With the Teamster vote and the union vote we can make the difference,” Hoffa continued. “We need every member, every family member and every friend to vote next Tuesday. The future of our nation is at stake.”
Hoffa noted numerous anti-worker actions taken by the Bush administration over the past four years, including: the elimination of overtime for six million workers; the canceling of ergonomics regulations implemented by President Clinton; the implementation of new Hours of Services regulations extending driving time for truck drivers; President Bush’s threatened veto of multi-employer pension protections affecting more than 10 million workers and the Bush administration’s continued failure to negotiate trade agreements that keep good jobs in the United States.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout North America.