Brothers and Sisters it was inspiring to see all who took the time to travel to Santa Fe, NM on Sunday, the eighth of March 2015, to attend a rally against the “Right to Work” agenda that was being proposed during the 2015 State Legislative session.  To view Photos, Click Here

Those Teamster Brothers and Sisters in attendance were from the following companies; ABF Freight (actives & retirees), YRC Freight (actives & retirees), United Parcel Service [Socorro Center, Albuquerque Centers (Gateway, Comanche Hub, Feeder Dept.) & the Santa Fe Center], Creamland Dairies, LANL (Los Alamos National Labs), EVSWA (Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority), Sysco Foods, Movie Industry and the BLET (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen). 

Brother Joseph Carrillo, an ABF OTR driver, who has been working at the Local Union during this Legislative session, has done one outstanding job helping with the D.R.I.V.E. campaign along with coordinating volunteers and communicating with our stewards towards getting the word out for this fight against “RTW”.  I personally want to THANK EVERYONE, on behalf of the Local Union, who helped with stuffing envelopes, after work and on the weekends, and in general, gave of your time for this very important fight. 

It was great to see everyone come together, but this fight is not over, it will rear its ugly head as long as there are major corporations and out-of-state people like the Koch Brothers involved.  Be prepared to start this battle all over again next year. 

This hard fought battle proves when there is apathy during election cycles, there are repercussions to not having labor friendly representatives in office, regardless of political and/or party affiliation. Remember to thank your State Senators as they were the ones who held down the lines when push came to shove.  Those labor friendly State Representatives being in the minority, could not overcome their anti-labor opponents on February the 25th, when the House of Representatives conducted their vote.  They also need to be thanked for their efforts! Click Thanks to These NM Legislators for a current list which includes their email addresses.  

A great big Thank You,  also goes out to President Steve Vairma and his Joint Council No. 3 Executive Board for their help with providing Jim Adams and your Joint Council truck during this 2015 Legislative session, it provided an awesome backdrop (To view Photos, Click Here) and also a great stage where several speakers took advantage of its availability.  Brother Jim Adams followed in the footsteps of Brother Jimmy Hatfield (who initially was in charge of keeping the Joint Council truck looking like a top); they both were and are super ambassadors as Union/Teamster members as they go about doing their work.  Thanks Brother Adams you are also owed a big Thank You!