Welcome to Teamsters Local 929

A Letter From Your President

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

    In these difficult economic times, it is very easy to become complacent, overwhelmed, and helpless. We hear every day about more and more economic hardship in the world, the United States, and the Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey areas. As employers throughout the United States continue to target workers in order to balance budgets and meet profit margins, unions, as especially the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, remain as some of the only allies workers have on their side. Workers were not responsible for irresponsible banks engaging in risky lending, and yet workers are being asked to pay the price. Workers were not responsible for municipal employers’ failure to timely balance budgets and waste tax payers’ money on patronage jobs, and yet workers are being asked to pay the price. You are not alone in this struggle, and there are some things you can do to help yourself and your fellow union members.

    There are two very simple answers to this question. First, unions are the only protection standing between employers and workers. When the economy is strong, employers may voluntarily give raises and benefits to workers, but now we see that as the economy struggles, employers attempt to fix all their problems by taking from the workers. Public employers are attempting to balance their budgets by taking from workers, and private employers are trying to increase their profits by taking from workers. Teamsters Local 929 has worked tirelessly in the past few years attempting to limit concessions and maintain your wages, health benefits and pensions. Without your Union, employers would simply be permitted to take whatever they want from you.

    Second, employers are upset that unions and union members support political candidates who support them. The governors and legislators who are attempting to wipe out public sector unions are trying to kill off any competition they may have in the future. Some critics have even complained that unions support politicians, and then negotiate strong contracts with those same politicians. Well, no one seems to be mentioning that corporations and businesses also support politicians. The difference? When unions support a politician, they still have to sit down and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. These corporations and businesses who support politicians receive direct aid in the form of no-bid contracts, tax breaks, and favorable legislation.

    As a member of Teamsters Local 929, you should know that your Union is doing what it can to maintain your standard of living during these difficult economic times, and when Unions are under attack. Please contact us with any concerns you may have on your job.

Fraternally,
Rocky Bryan Jr.
President Local 929