Local 237 NEWSLINE HERHO OT O R D B O L F A T N E O A I M T A S T N E R R E S T N I October/November 2012 Vol. 46, No. 7 R TEAMSTERS FOR OBAMA We urge all union members to vote for President Obama. He fights by our side in the War on Workers and advocates for middle- and lower-income families. his election will go down in history lion who are not currently insured. Rom- as a turning point when American ney, whose plan focuses on controlling Tvoters decided, not simply between medical costs, has vowed to ban the so- two presidential candidates, but on two called “Obamacare,” a major social pro- sharply contrasting philosophies for guid- gram, if he is elected. ing the nation toward successful recovery I Medicare – Obama would preserve after the worst economic crisis since the this program for the elderly and trim costs Great Depression. President Obama has a by cutting payments to providers. Romney record of supporting community ideals would give future Medicare beneficiaries a and the social safety nets that protect the fixed amount, so-called vouchers, to pay greatest number of Americans. Mitt premiums for Medicare or private insur- Romney has a record of putting the needs ance. of the wealthiest few above the majority of I Medicaid – Obama would expand Americans. Teamster volunteers at Local 237 dial up members in swing states. Medicaid, a safety-net program for the poor As it does for each presidential election, the Each of us must make that choice by voting on and disabled. Romney would give each state a International Brotherhood of Teamsters set up November 6. With so much at stake as we struggle fixed amount and more control over deciding phone banks at Local 237 in New York City, at a in a stagnant economy to maintain our jobs, wages who gets coverage. Local in Chicago, and inside a tractor-trailer and lifestyles, it is important to know how each I Jobs – Obama stood up and fought for cruising through Washington State, where mem- candidate plans to lead us to a better future. Most Teamsters and union members. Taking action to ber volunteers call other members in swing importantly, we must vote, and encourage every save American automakers with a huge govern- states, including Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, eligible voter we know to vote on Election Day. ment loan — which is being paid back — he pre- Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and served more than 10,000 Teamster jobs and more Why We Endorse President Obama: Iowa. The goal is to reach 30,000 members during than 160,000 jobs in the industry. the weeks before Election Day. Each call is an op- Health Care – Obama’s signature Afford- I I Economy – We’ve had 29 straight months of portunity to speak with a Teamster brother or sis- able Health Care act will provide near universal job growth during Obama’s first 3 years in office, as ter about the critical choices at hand. coverage to all Americans, including the 30 mil- he steered the nation out of the Great Recession. Local 237 Endorsements for the General Elections in New York State, Tuesday, Nov. 6 United States Senate Nassau, Suffolk New York State Assembly 52 Joan Millman (D/WF) Kings Kirsten Gillibrand (D) 9 Dean G. Skelos (R) Nassau 4 Steven Englebright (D/I/WF) Suffolk 54 Rafael Espinal Jr. (D/C) Kings 11 Tony Avella (D/C/I/WF) Queens 5 Alfred Graf (R-I) Suffolk 56 Annette Robinson (D) Kings 12 Michael Gianaris (D/WF) Queens 6 Philip Ramos (D/I/WF) Suffolk 59 Alan Maisel (D) Kings United States Congress 13 José Peralta (D/WF) Queens 60 Inez Barron (D/WF) Kings District/Candidate County 9 Joseph Saladino (R/C/I) Suffolk 15 Joseph Addabbo (D/WF) Queens 10 Joseph Dujmic (D/WF) Nassau, Suffolk 61 Matthew Titone (D/WF) Richmond 1 Timothy H. Bishop (D) Suffolk 16 Toby Ann Stavisky (D/I/WF) Queens 12 Andrew Raia (R/C) Nassau 63 Michael Cusick (D/C/I) Richmond 2 Peter T. King (R) Suffolk 18 Martin Malave Dilan (D) Kings 13 Charles D. Lavine (D) Nassau 64 Nicole Malliotakis (R/C/I) Richmond 3 Steve J. Israel (D/I/WF) Suffolk 19 John L. Sampson (D/WF) Kings 14 David McDonough (R) Nassau 65 Sheldon Silver (D/WF) New York 4 Carolyn McCarthy (D/I/WF) Nassau 20 Eric L. Adams (D/WF) Kings 16 Michelle Schimel (D/I/WF) Nassau 66 Deborah J. Glick (D) New York 6 Grace Meng (D/I) Queens 21 Kevin S. Parker (D/WF) Kings 22 Michaelle Solages (D) Queens 67 Linda Rosenthal (D/WF) New York 7 Nydia Velazquez (D/WF) Kings, Queens, NY 22 Martin J. Golden (R/C) Kings 31 Michelle Titus (D/WF) Queens 70 Keith L.Wright (D/WF) New York 8 Hakeem Jeffries (D/WF) Kings 23 Diane M. Savino (D/WF/I) Richmond, Kings 32 Vivian Cook (D) Queens 71 Herman D. Farrell, Jr. (D) New York 9 Yvette Clarke (D/WF) Kings 24 Andrew J. Lanza (R//C/I) Richmond 34 Michael Den Dekker (D-WF) Queens 74 Brian Kavanagh (D/WF) New York 10 Jerrold Nadler (D/WF) New York 25 Velmanette Montgomery (D-WF) Kings 35 Jeffrion Aubry (D/WF) Queens 75 Richard Gottfried (D/WF) New York 12 Carolyn Maloney (D/WF) Queens 26 Daniel Squadron (D/WF) New York 37 Catherine Nolan (D-WF) Queens 76 Micah Kellner (D/WF) New York 13 Charles Rangel (D/WF) New York, Bronx 27 Brad Hoylman (D/WF) New York 38 Michael Miller (D/WF) Queens 77 Vanessa Gibson (D/WF) Bronx 14 Joe Crowley (D/WF) Queens, Bronx 28 Liz Kreuger (D/WF) New York 39 Francisco Moya (D/WF) Queens 78 José Rivera (D) Bronx 15 José Serrano (D/WF) Bronx 29 José Serrano (D/WF) Bronx 40 Inez Barron (D/WF) Kings 79 Eric Stevenson (D/WF) Bronx 16 Eliot Engel (D/WF) Westchester 30 Bill Perkins (D/WF) New York 41 Helene Weinstein (D/I/WF) Kings 81 Jeffrey Dinowitz (D/WF) Bronx 17 Nita Lowey (D/WF) Westchester, Rockland 31 Adriano Espaillat (D) New York/Bronx 42 Rhoda S. Jacobs (D-WF) Kings 82 Michael R. Benedetto (D/WF) Bronx 18 Sean Patrick Maloney (D) Westchester 32 Ruben Diaz Sr. (R/D/C) Bronx 43 Karim Camara (D/WF) Kings 83 Carl E. Heastie (D/WF) Bronx 19 Julian Schreibman (D/WF) Duchess 33 Gustavo Rivera (D/WF) Bronx 44 James F. Brennan (D/L/WF) Kings 85 Marcos Crespo (D/WF) Bronx 34 Jeffrey D. Klein (D) Bronx, Westchester 86 Nelson Castro (D/WF) Bronx New York State Senate 45 Steven Cymbrowitz (D/WF) Kings 35 Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/I/WF) 47 William Colton (D/WF) Kings 87 Luis Sepulveda (D/WF) Bronx 1 Kenneth P. LaValle (R/C/I) Suffolk Westchester 49 Peter Abbate Jr. (D/I/WF) Kings 89 Gary Pretlow (D/I/WF) Westchester 6 Kemp Hannon (R/C/I) Nassau 36 Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D) Westchester 50 Joseph R. Lentol (D) Kings 90 Shelley Mayer (D/I/WF) 8 Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R/C/I) 37 George Latimer (D/WF) Westchester 51 Felix Ortiz (D) Kings Westchester/Putnam 2 NEWSLINE, October/November 2012 Local 237 Member Services UNION HEADQUARTERS Richard Hendershot, 212-924-2000 Vice President A Message From 216 West 14th Street Ruben Torres, The President New York, NY 10011-7296 Secretary-Treasurer LOCAL 237 DIVISIONS PERSONNEL, 5th Fl. CITYWIDE DIVISION, 2nd Fl. 212-924-2000 212-924-2000 Edmund Kane, Director and Donald Arnold, Director Chief Negotiator Al Soto, Law Enforcement POLITICAL ACTION & Director LEGISLATION, 5th Fl. Support Obama Like Your Life Randy Klein, Assistant Director 212-924-2000 HOUSING DIVISION, 2nd Fl. Local 237 protects members’ 212-924-2000 rights by helping to sponsor legis- Depends on It Remilda Ferguson, Director lation that is important to mem- James Giocastro, bers, and by opposing initiatives Deputy Director that would hurt members. t seems like before every presidential elec- stroy rather than improve public services. LONG ISLAND DIVISION Patricia Stryker, Director tion, we call it the most important one of Locally, we are helping bring attention to 631-851-9800 GRIEVANCES/DISCIPLINARY our time. In truth, every presidential elec- the many problems at NYCHA. Local 237’s 1727 Veterans Memorial PROBLEMS, 6th Fl. I tion is incredibly important. It decides who newly created NYCHA Task Force, com- Highway 212-924-2000 will be the leader of the free world and the prised of union and community representa- Suite 308 For grievances and job related commander in chief of the most powerful tives, is dedicated to providing solutions Islandia, NY 11749 problems, first contact your shop military on earth. Even more than that, it that will fix public housing for residents John Burns, Director steward and/or grievance repre- shows the national mood and says some- and workers alike. That is a good example Benedict Carenza, sentative. If they cannot resolve Deputy Director of the power we have if we work together the issue, they or you should con- thing about our values at the time. Long Island Welfare Fund: tact your business agent. That is why this election is different and use our voices to make real change. We For information on the various and more important. Our country is split must continue to push for change here but funds call 800-962-1145 Mal Patterson, Director of Grievances and Hearings into two clear sides that have never seemed also all around the country.