New History Theme Entryway 

Teamsters Local 492 recently updated the Union Hall entryway and had “Spence da Painter” free-hand paint a history theme mural on two of the walls with images from the IBT history books. As you can see from the picture, it looks amazing and Spence did a phenomenal job! You can view more pictures and see his process by Clicking Here.  A special thanks to the handy work of two of the 492 Business Agents, Brother Trey White, Sister Melissa Malcom and her husband Brian Chavez for volunteering their free time to update the entryway by painting, hanging moulding, etc. and Retiree Brother Kelvin Holly for getting the floors in the main hall looking great again. 

Teamsters Local 492 has made an agreement with the Operating Engineers Local 953 to allow Teamsters to attend their training classes this year (at no cost to our members) which gives our members more opportunities to attend classes rather than just one week. The previously scheduled classes for June at the Teamster Hall will no longer be available.

Training Schedule 2017

Teamster Members ONLY! Effective immediately, only 25 people per class. You must call Kristen Spath at 505-877-5071 to register. This phone number is the only number to call. If you get a fax tone, just call back later. Please dont call any other number to register for these classes. 

If you fail to call and register you CANNOT attend the class.

January 14        Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am –ABQ

February 4        Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Kirtland Hall

February 18      Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Roswell

February 25&26 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -ABQ

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday) Just Added!!

March4&5        10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00am -ABQ

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)

March 18&19   10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -Espanola

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)

April 1&2         10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -Roswell

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)

May6&7           10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00am -Kirtland

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)

July 22             Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -ABQ

August 26&27 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00am -Espanola

(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)

September 9     Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Roswell

October 7         Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Kirtland

The 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day had another great turnout this year with the number of members attending increasing by 11% over last year.  Members came from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in order of highest member turnout) ABF, UPS, YRC, Creamland, UPS Freight, Film/Movies Drivers, AmeriPride Linen, Sysco, Franklins, Penske, Bimbo, Chenega, Hertz, Sandia Labs, and TeamOne. There were Teamster Retirees that also attended and had a booth set up for info on their Teamster Retiree Club.

To View Photos of the Event, Click Here

The Executive Board, Business Agents and office staff were on hand and enjoyed meeting and talking to the Members in this social atmosphere. This year’s theme was Teamster History and everyone enjoyed the free food featuring Popeye’s Chicken, the free Teamster shirts for Members, and face painting for the kids. We also gave away a 40" Flat screen TV, Sound Bar, Tools, Lobo ice chest, and whole lot more including 30 gift bags full of Teamster History books, Teamster History DVD, and also some 492 Teamster swag. The kids who attended received a free Teamster Ring Disc Frisbee. The three most sought after prizes were the TV, won by Ameripride Driver Anthony Perea, and the two custom made 492 Teamster Disk-it’s, won by Ameripride Driver Alonzo Rivas & ABF retiree Albert Perea).

The Teamsters Joint Council #3 Truck was there thanks to Retired 455 Vice President, Jim Adams, who drove it down from CO.

We also heard your requests from last year, and ordered many Teamster Local 492 products for people to purchase including Hats, shirts, lapel pins, coffee mugs, window decals, lunch bags and more. Click Here to view the product list with pictures and prices. These items are still for sale and we will be able to accept Credit Cards during business hours 7:30 to 3:30 pm M-F. 

This is the 4th year Teamsters Local 492 has hosted an event to celebrate the Teamsters of New Mexico, and the second year we have had a committee of Volunteer Teamsters Members plan the event. Thank you to the 492 Event Committee, led by Brother Joseph Carrillo which put all of this together and did a phenomenal job on another amazing function! 

The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board, on behalf of all of the Members who enjoyed the event, would like to thank The 492 Volunteer Event Committee for all of their hard work and the countless hours of their personal time they donated to this great Union over the past months preparing for this day. In addition to the planning, The Committee showed up Thursday to set-up the inside of the hall and came in at 8 am Saturday morning to prepare the outside.  The Committee also worked the entire event to insure the Members would enjoy themselves. In alphabetical order, The 2016 Committee was: Darlene Archuleta, who also volunteered at the Teamster store and raffle tickets, Sister Esther Basham (ABF), who also volunteered at food table, Brother Joseph Carrillo (ABF), (event coordination), Lacey Eversole (ABF), who also volunteered at the check-in table, Sister Rori Hall (ABF), who also volunteered at the Teamster store and raffle tickets, Brother Albert Lujan (ABF) who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, Sister Melissa Malcom  (Movie Driver) who also volunteered at the check-in table, Brother Andrew Palmer (UPS) Brother & Robert Sanders (ABF) who also helped manage trash and drinks, Brother Jesus Vidaca (ABF), who also helped with the Raffle, and Brother Camden White (ABF), who facilitated the chairs & tables donated by Netherwood Park Church of Christ.  

We would also like to thank all the volunteers that helped set up the event, close down and clean up, and also thanks to the day-of-the-event volunteers that kept the whole thing running smoothly which include all those above plus; Teamsters Local 492 Secretary-Treasurer Walter R. Maestas, Sister Silvana Cufré (ABF), Brother Robert Delgado (ABF), Brother Eddy Merida (ABF-CA), Brother Chad Sullins (ABF), Brother Donald Wood (ABF), Brother Kirk Weis (ABF), and the daughters of Brother Andrew Palmer (UPS) & Brother Jesus Vidaca (ABF).

(If you would like to be on the event committee or volunteer at our next event, let us know by Clicking Here)

A Special thank you to ABF for lending us their tents and to Line Haul Manager Randy Archer for helping us set them up.

Thank you to all who participated and attended this event, we truly enjoyed seeing all of you and meeting your families and we hope to be able to do this again next year. On behalf the Teamsters Local 492 staff, Business Agents and Executive Board, we truly appreciate the Members of this Local Union and everything you do to make this Union great, and all the hard working Union Stewards that do such a great job helping their fellow Members, Thank you Teamster Brothers & Sisters!

Court Places Injunction on “Workplace Freedom Act” Following Testimony From Teamsters International General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall

 (CHARLESTON, W.Va.) – Today, all of labor and the middle class working families of West Virginia won a major victory after the Kanawha County Circuit Court granted a request for an injunction that would suspend the destructive right-to-work legislation that was passed earlier this year. The court ruled that the injunction should be granted pending a full review of the merit of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the “Workplace Freedom Act” filed by labor unions across West Virginia.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall, who also serves as President of Teamster Local 175 in South Charleston, testified before the Kanawha County Circuit Court today to challenge the law. Speaking on behalf of the West Virginia labor movement, Hall noted there are several technical and constitutional issues of the enacted legislation.

“We applaud Judge Bailey’s ruling. This legislation deserves careful consideration by the court. The language of the bill–as it was written, amended and enacted into law–has significant issues that are in violation of the West Virginia Constitution,” Hall said.

The Teamsters and the West Virginia AFL-CIO, along with several other labor unions across the state, filed petitions in Kanawha County Circuit Court challenging the Workplace Freedom Act on June 27, contending that the right-to-work law is intended to discourage union membership by “enabling nonmembers of unions to get union services for free”— an illegal taking of union property and resources.

Earlier this year, a circuit court judge in Wisconsin overturned the state’s right-to-work law over similar challenges in a case that argued the unconstitutional taking of union property and resources.

“The Workplace Freedom Act will not bring freedom to the workplace, as the name deceitfully suggests. Rather, it will deny hardworking West Virginians the rights and protections they need to survive,” Hall said. “If this becomes the law of the land, it will not only be in violation of our state’s very own constitution—it will cause workers’ wages to go down and workplace injuries to go up. This legislation is unconstitutional, unethical and unacceptable for West Virginia.”

The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board would like to invite you and your family to the 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day, this year's event theme is Teamster History. Come join us tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 17th at the Union Hall from 11am to 4pm.  We will be serving free Popeye’s chicken, and the JC3 Teamster truck will be there.

Enjoy free food, music, and free raffle prizes including a 40" Flat screen TV, Sound Bar, Tools, Lobo ice chest, and whole lot more. We will also be giving away 30 gift bags full of Teamster History books, Teamster History DVD, and also some 492 Teamster swag. The kids attending will receive a free Teamster Ring Disc Frisbee. There will also be a Bouncy House (donated by David Candelaria) and there will be face painting artists and Teamster temp-Tattoos.  

In addition, you will get your free official 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day tee shirt when you register at the event and we will also have some other free items including Teamster History books.  To speed up your registration process, you can download the registration form here, and then just bring it with you filled out to avoid the line.

Due to popular demand, we will have two Custom Teamsters “DISC-IT” Propane Grills this year, one ticket (for two chances to win) is only $1, or for $10 you will get 12 tickets.

We heard your requests from last year and we have ordered many Teamster Local 492 products for you to purchase this year including Hats, shirts, lapel pins, coffee mugs, window decals, lunch bags and more. Click Here to download the product list with pictures and prices. If you plan on purchasing items, please bring a check or cash (small bills please) as we will NOT be able to accept Credit Cards.

You can download the event flyer here.

You can download the registration form here to avoid the line.

You can download the products pictures & price sheet here. 

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!!!

Teamster Bus Driver Leo Valencia Takes Top Honors at 2016 Annual Bus Roadeo and Conference

Teamster Leo Valencia who is a driver for North Central Regional Transit District took first place in the Cutaway Bus competition at this year’s Bus Roadeo and Conference.  The April 3 event was held during the Annual Conference and Expo which took place at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces in Las Cruces, New Mexico. (See Photos Here)

A warm round of congratulations from NCRTD Board Members and Board meeting attendees greeted Leo on April 8 where NCRTD Executive Director, Anthony Mortillaro, presented him with the NMPTA plaque honoring him for his First Place finish.

As winner of the New Mexico State Roadeo, Leo went to Portland for the National Roadeo event at the Community Transportation Association Expo in May where he, along with other New Mexico Roadeo conference winners, represented the Land of Enchantment. This is the 4^th time in the last 5 years Leo has won 1^st place in the state competition. Leo placed 14^th in the national competition.   

Leo Valencia drives for the RTD 340 Chile Line Red and began driving for the Chile Line in back in 2010.

Always a highlight of the Annual NMPTA Conference, the Roadeo is a fun and friendly challenge among transit drivers from across the State.  What might look like a maze of randomly placed orange cones to the untrained eye, the expert drivers know exactly what they need to do to maneuver the course with precision.  The timed course contains obstacles that test every phase a bus operator encounters under normal driving conditions.  In addition to driving skills and written test, participants are also tested on ADA wheelchair securement standards and pre-trip vehicle inspection.

The competition is a showcase of vehicle operator skills and promotes safety, professionalism and excellence in transit operations.

James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Annual Essay Contest

The topic of the 2016 Essay Contest has been announced:  "What has living in a Teamster household meant to me and my siblings?" A link to the essay contest application is provided here.  All applicants must use the Essay Contest application and return it, along with their essay by June 15, 2016.

Separate from the annual scholarship for high school seniors, the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Essay Contest will award one-time $1,000.00 scholarships annually to 200 students. All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria:

1. Be the son, daughter or financial dependent of an eligible Teamster member, hereafter also referred to as “Teamster Member Relation”;

2. Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate college, university or community college program, or a technical or vocational program;

3. Be 23 years old or younger by June 15, 2016.

About the Fund: James R. Hoffa became a Teamster member in 1934 and served as General President for 14 years, and, in recognition of his tireless service to the union and its members, was honored as General President Emeritus for life. At the November 1999 General Executive Board meeting, then-General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel presented a resolution to establish the new scholarship fund. This site describes the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) and outlines eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund is an independent organization established and registered as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund is established solely to provide scholarships to the child or dependent of a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and contributions to the Fund are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. In 2015 the Fund awarded $1,000,000 in scholarships.

The New Mexico Truck Driving Championships were held this year at the Isleta Resort for the second year. There was a large spectator turnout and the event is looking more like a “state fair/balloon fiesta” type function every year. With ABF, Sysco, UPS Freight, and YRC all having cook outs, it was a great family day for all that attended.  See Photos Here

This year, the event had not only trucking companies showcasing their driver’s talents, but some companies set up booths for people to learn more about their company. There were also vendors with booths of their own giving out goodies which included; Mack Truck, Rush Truck Center, Pre-Pass, NM Trucking, NM DOT-ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems), Penske, and Legal Shield. There were also “show trucks” there, including the Teamster Joint Council #3 Truck, (thanks to Teamster retiree Jim Adams for bringing it in from Colorado) the ATA Share-The-Road Truck, San Juan Community College Truck, and the Veterans Day-POW Tanker by EMG Ltd.

The Teamster Companies were well represented again this year with 35 Teamsters from 5 Companies competing including ABF, Sysco, TeamOne, UPS Freight, and YRC sending their best of the best. Teamsters Local 492 is proud of these great drivers for competing in the TDC this year. Whether they placed or not, having such a strong Teamster presence of Professional Drivers at these functions speaks volumes in the trucking industry.

Congratulations to all the competitors and winners for another great Truck Roadeo! A special thanks to Teamsters Robert Aragon, Albert Lujan, Kenton Newbill, and Chad Sullins for volunteering to hostle and to Teamster Roy Lucas and also Ron Cordova, Randy Archer and his wife for setting up all the tents and cooking for everyone again this year, and all of the other unnamed volunteers that helped cook for the members.

Below is a list of the Teamster Companies that competed (in alphabetical order). Some of the companies did not respond to our request for information, so we apologize if we missed anyone.            

ABF had 17 drivers compete, 13 placed:

Straight Truck: Don Wood – 2nd Place

3 Axle: Robert Delgado – 2nd Place

4 Axle: Ralph Garcia – 1st Place

4 Axle: Justin Gallant – 2nd Place (Rookie)

5 Axle: Joey Padilla – 2nd Place (Rookie)

5 Axle: Duane Oldfield – 3rd Place

Flatbed: Michael Contreras – 1st Place

Flatbed: Josh Perez – 2nd Place (Rookie)

Sleeper: Joseph Carrillo – 1st Place

Sleeper: Charlie Estrada – 3rd Place

Tanker: Gerald Benavidez – 1st Place

Tanker: Carl Marquez – 2nd Place

Twins: Fernando Gonzalez – 2nd Place (Rookie)

Justin Gallant – Rookie of the Year

ABF received the Team of the Year Award for the highest points.

ABF also was awarded the Fleet Safety Awards in the following categories:

100k – 500k Miles Fleet (City Operations)

5 Million Miles plus (Line Haul Operations)

The following ABF Teamsters also competed: In the 3 Axle - Randel Amberman & Kirk Wise. In the Twins Trailers - Ricky Lucas & Steven Russell.

Sysco - David Logan won 3^rd place in Tanker.

Sysco had 6 drivers competing this year: In 3 Axle - Thomas Humphries, Jose Salas, & Sean Smartt. In 5 Axle - Aaron Clanan. In Tanker Truck – David Logan and Martin Montez.

TeamOne (UPS Truckload) won the 500k to 1M Fleet Safety Award and had 2 drivers competing this year; Brian Thais 4-Axle (this is his 8^th year competing) & Cam Misner 4-Axle (this is his 4^th year competing) 

UPS Freight had 6 drivers compete this year: In 3 Axle - Steve Lopez, Ginger Victoria McKeegan & Joe Seijas. In 4 Axle - Keith Brewer & Armondo Hernandez. In Flatbed - Wendell Ellis.

YRC had 4 drivers compete this year: Stanley Aragon in 4 Axle. In 5 Axle Sleeper - Michael McAfee & Jack Rojas, In 5 Axle - Steven Taylor.

It was another great event put on by the NMTA and it seems to improve and grow larger each year. It was also great to see such a strong Teamster presence again this year and we hope to see you all again next year! Click Here to view all the scores.