We have to take on the nonunion competition.

Most Teamsters work at small companies that face cut-throat competition from nonunion competitors that pay lower wages—and low or no benefits. Healthcare? Maybe. A pension? Forget it.

I’m President of Teamsters Local 805 in New York. We’re a miscellaneous local with warehouse workers and truck drivers. Every time we go to the bargaining table, we face demands for givebacks and company threats to relocate and go nonunion.

We’ve said No to the concessions and won. But the problem isn’t going away.

That’s why the members and Executive Board of my local have voted to put our union’s money to work taking on the nonunion competition—including FreshDirect, the largest nonunion warehouse in metro New York.   

The Hoffa Campaign has made a big deal of attacking my local’s finances. But I will NEVER apologize for spending money to take on nonunion competitors who are threatening good union jobs.

Remarks by Sandy Pope at the Local 344 Candidate Forum. Read more of what Sandy had to say.