[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 119 (Thursday, September 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PHIL SAAL: 2001 JOHNS LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2001

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize 
Phil Saal, as he is honored by the San Diego Labor Community at the 
19th Annual John S. Lyons Memorial Banquet with the 2001 ``Labor Leader 
of the Year'' Award.
  Phil Saal was born and raised in Goshen, Indiana, a small Amish-
Mennonite community where he graduated from Goshen High School in 1961. 
After attending a trade school in Chicago he decided to move to San 
Diego and join the U.S. Navy. Phil was honorably discharged after his 
service to our Nation, which included three tours in Vietnam.
  Phil began working for United Parcel Service (UPS) in 1966 and became 
a member of Teamsters Local 542. He served as a Shop Steward for his 
union over the next twenty years at UPS.
  In 1986, Phil went to work as a full time Business Agent for Teamster 
Local 542, and during the next nine years, Phil administered and 
negotiated its contracts, with his primary responsibility being the UPS 
contract.
  In August 1995, Phil became the Secretary-Treasurer of Teamster Local 
542, representing over 5,000 members, and since this time he has 
organized twenty-one new companies with nearly 800 new members. Phil 
now serves as a Trustee of Teamsters Joint Council 42, Health and 
Welfare Trusts, Pension Trusts, and as an Executive Board Member of the 
San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council.
  Actively committed to labor's involvement in our communities, Phil 
continues efforts to establish a scholarship fund for children of 
Teamsters Local 542's members, which will enable them to continue their 
education in college or trade school.
  My congratulations go to Phil Saal for his significant contributions 
to organized labor and our community. Phil's commitment to Labor speaks 
for itself: he is highly deserving of the 2001 JOHNS ``Labor Leader of 
the Year'' Award.

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