[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL J. RILEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 1999

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, 
Mike Riley, who is retiring after a 45-year career with the Teamsters 
Union. In his modest way, Mike has said that working as a union 
organizer is ``one of the few things I was good at that I liked.'' I 
don't know about his other pursuits, but I can say without hesitation 
that Mike is one of the best union representatives that I have ever 
known.
  Mike's union career began as an accident. He was working as a truck 
driver in San Francisco, recently back from a tour of military duty in 
Korea, when he attended a union meeting. The big issue that day was 
whether members should support an increase in dues from $3 to $3.50 per 
month. Mike thought the request was justified, especially since the 
union had recently negotiated a $2.50 per week increase for Mike and 
his co-workers.
  As it turned out, he was in the minority. From that point, Mike 
started to speak in favor of the union at the monthly meetings. His 
efforts caught the attention of union organizers, who asked him to join 
their ranks. He accepted the offer, and has never looked back.
  Mike has held many prominent positions with the Teamsters, including 
International Union Representatives, International Vice President, 
Chairman of the Western Conference of Teamsters and President of 
Teamsters Joint Council 42, the position he holds today. Mike estimates 
he has helped negotiate thousands of contracts and settle tens of 
thousands of grievances through the years.
  Mike counts among his proudest achievements obtaining early 
retirement--with full benefits--for eligible union members and helping 
to establish the Teamsters Miscellaneous Health and Welfare Plan, which 
provides medical, dental and vision benefits to an additional 25,000 
Teamsters and their families.
  Although he was dedicated to the union, Mike did make room in his 
schedule to serve as member of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers 
of Greater Los Angeles. As the father of three sons (and three 
daughters), Mike knows better than most how important it is for a young 
man to have an adult male figure in his life. One of his sons is 
currently serving as a Big Brother.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Mike Riley, whose sense of 
compassion, commitment to economic justice and devotion to his family 
is an inspiration to us all. I am proud to be his friend.

                          ____________________