International Plans Blitzkrieg to Rally Labor

The threats to organized labor are more serious than they have been in a long time, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Attacks on the basic tenets of organized labor are escalating and General President James P. Hoffa predicts working men and women will face disaster if the torchbearer of the economy’s “1%” wins the White House this November. “We have a presidential candidate who says there is nothing wrong with sending jobs overseas,” said Hoffa, appearing on “The Ed Show” on July 27, and referring to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. “If that doesn’t make this election a very clear choice, about whether we’re going to have jobs in America, about whether we’re going to bring those jobs back from overseas, this is what it’s about.” Hoffa is urging the membership to vote against Romney in November, but is keenly aware that the local unions in many states face even larger battles to preserve their way of life. In Illinois, pension reform for public employees tops the list of threats. “If lawmakers don’t address this in August, then it will likely happen in fall veto session,” said Tony Barr, Local 916 president.“Reform is coming, but if the changes are draconian, and working men and women bear the brunt of the state’s mismanagement, there will be a fight.” Approximately 3,400 members of Local 916 are employed by the State of Illinois.