[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF TEAMSTERS JOINT COUNCIL 7

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 8, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I along with Hon. Ellen O. Tauscher, Hon. 
Anna G. Eshoo, Hon. Mike Honda, Hon. George Miller, Hon. Tom Lantos, 
Hon. Zoe Lofgren, Hon. Mike Thompson, Hon. Pete Stark and Speaker Nancy 
Pelosi are proud to rise today to honor Teamsters Joint Council 7 on 
the occasion of their 100th anniversary. Theirs is a proud history, 
whose origins in the days of the California Gold Rush speak to a long-
time concern for the welfare of working people.
  In the mid-1800s, when San Francisco was a booming Gold Rush town, 
the Teamsters Association was formed to address competition from 
Australians who had arrived with stronger horses. While not a true 
trade union, it was the first teamster organization on the West Coast 
and the precursor of Teamsters Joint Council 7.
  The Teamsters Association collapsed in the depression of 1854, and in 
1856, a new Draymen's and Teamsters Union was formed. By 1888, however, 
the majority of working teamsters had dropped out, leaving a guild of 
employers and bosses. Due to poor conditions, a second attempt was made 
to create a union in 1900, and again the organization was commandeered 
by employers.
  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters came into existence in 
1903 and stepped up to organize local unions by occupation after the 
1906 earthquake led to a more complex system of goods distribution. On 
November 18, 1907, the Joint Council was chartered to oversee these 
groups.
  By 1912 there were 13 groups ranging from hackmen to ice wagon 
drivers. The Joint Council helped in disputes with employers as well as 
differences among the locals, relieving union officers of many routine 
duties and improving the welfare of the membership.
  In those early years, Teamsters Local 85 dominated the operations and 
provided notable leadership. Local 85 had demonstrated its ability to 
create solidarity when they called a strike in 1901. Other labor unions 
rallied around, and the employers backed down. This action earned San 
Francisco a reputation as the strongest ``Union Town'' in the nation.
  Today Joint Council 7 has 15 affiliates and serves the greater Bay 
Area from Santa Rosa in the north to Salinas/Monterey in the south. The 
current affiliates are:
  Local 70, Oakland, Chuck Mack, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 78, 
Hayward, Steve Mack, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 85, San Francisco, Van 
Beane, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 278, San Francisco, Jack Bookter, 
Secretary-Treasurer; Local 287, San Jose, Bill Hoyt, Secretary-
Treasurer; Local 315, Martinez, Dale Robbins, Secretary-Treasurer; 
Local 350, Daly City, Robert Morales, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 490, 
Vallejo, Carlos Borba, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 624, Santa Rosa, Bob 
Carr, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 665, Daly City, Ernie Yates, 
Secretary-Treasurer; Local 853, San Leandro, Rome Aloise, Secretary-
Treasurer; Local 856, San Bruno, Joseph Lanthier, Secretary-Treasurer; 
Local 890, Salinas, Franklin Gallegos, President; Local 896, Vallejo, 
Rene Medrano, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 912, Watsonville, Brad 
Sebring, Secretary-Treasurer.
  Under the leadership of president Chuck Mack, who has served for 25 
years, the organization has developed many additional functions. These 
include legal support, a commercial drivers' training program, 
political activity to support working families, alcohol and drug 
treatment, and maintenance of a charitable trust to assist members 
after disasters and tragedies as well as to support community causes.
  Their own words say it best: ``100 hundred years old and our members 
are still priority number one!''
  Madam Speaker, organized labor in this country has led to better 
wages, health care, and pensions for workers. Throughout the years, 
Teamsters Joint Council 7 has reaffirmed its commitment to the working 
families of the Bay Area. We all wish Joint Council 7 continued success 
in the future and hope that their second hundred years will be as 
productive as the first hundred.

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