In the second half of the general session, Teamsters heard from Public Services Division Assistant Director Greg Floyd, International Vice President At-Large, Joan Corey, Local 911 Secretary-Treasurer Ray Whitmer, and Local 238 Secretary-Treasurer Jesse Case about ongoing public sectors fights and recent organizing victories.
“While so many municipal workers are everyday heroes too often unacknowledged and unthanked, the Teamsters recognize and value their selfless professionalism and steadying effect so often called upon to right a ship off course,” Floyd said. “We are proud to represent them.”
“As a member of the General Executive Board, it has been an honor to have a front row seat and witness the fire that General President O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Zuckerman have lit under public and private sector employers,” Corey said.
"For the anti-union folks who thought they were going to hurt us and turn us back to the previous century, we are proud to have proved them wrong," Whitmer said. "In fact, laws and rulings like Janus made us work harder and they made us stronger. Teamsters in the public sector are always up for a fight—and we're going to keep fighting back against these anti-union laws."
“Public sector unions are under attack, not just Iowa but in Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and many others. But there’s also good news—Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, and Nevada have all fought back bad public sector bills,” Case said. “In Iowa, we just killed a terrible public sector bill because we fought back.”
Attendees also heard from Local 2 Secretary-Treasurer Erin Foley and Teamsters Health Care Director Jason Lopes regarding what is going on with Teamsters in the health care industry.
Local 237 President, Teamster Public Services Division Assistant Director and International Vice President At-Large Gregory Floyd addresses the 2024 Division Conference.