Alex AdamsRon Carey was the real thing. He inspired me, and got me active in our union. I miss him, and the union misses him.

I got in touch with Ron Carey through TDU. I was distributing his campaign literature and Convoy Dispatch all over Ohio and East—I was a road driver then at Yellow Freight. When I got a chance to meet him, after a TDU Convention, my support took on new meaning. I’m proud to say I became a friend of his.

With his inspiration and TDU’s help, I was a delegate to the 1996 Convention and proudly served on the Constitution Committee. In all my dealings with Ron, he was always straightforward and honest.

He did at the International Union what he had done earlier in Local 804. He got members involved. He improved the pensions and won early retirement. The employers couldn’t stand him because he wouldn’t wheel and deal with them.

UPS in particular was out to bring him down, but he was revered by many members.

A lot of Teamster officials were out to bring him down, because he abolished the Area Conferences that paid extra salaries and pensions. They would rather stab Ron in the back than help him take on the employers.

Ron Carey was a knight in shining armor for Teamsters.

Alex Adams
Former President Local 407, now retired