The History of Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has been a force in the U.S. labor movement since the late 1800s. The Teamsters maintain a membership of 1.5 million members today. The union draws its membership from a broad spectrum of blue collar and professionals. The union consists of members from both the public and private sectors.
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Founding
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The establishment of the first local organizations that ultimately became part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union is traced to 1887. Beginning that year, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) assisted in establishing local unions of teamsters in the United States. During this time, teamsters drove teams of horses and wagons for commercial purposes.
The Team Drivers' International Union was established by the AFL a dozen years later. A few years after that a group of local unions broke with the AFL's organization and started the Teamsters National Union. Two years later, these two organizations merged, under the umbrella of the AFL. That incarnation was the first to bear the name International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Early Years
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During the early years of the Teamsters, the true power of the Teamsters was found with its local organizations. Cornelius Shea was the first president of the union, taking office in the year of its creation, 1903. He was succeeded by Daniel Tobin in 1907 who would lead the Teamsters for decades until his retirement in 1952.
The Teamsters expanded dramatically during the 1910s and 1920 under Tobin's leadership. Membership expanded beyond actual teamsters to others associated with the commercial transportation industry. During this era, the definition of a teamster expanded to truck drivers. By 1932 union membership was more than 80,000.
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Great Depression
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With the election of Franklin Roosevelt as president of the United States laws were enacted to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Another effect of this legislation was to expand union membership. Specifically, the National Industrial Recovery Act created a tide of pro-union sentiment. By 1935, the Teamsters membership climbed to 135,000. Six years later, union membership increased to 530,000.
By World War II, the Teamsters were one of the most powerful unions in the United States. Indeed, Teamsters President Tobin was appointed to serve as the White House liaison to organized labor by Roosevelt. During the war, the Teamsters made a no-strike pledge in support of the war effort.
Post World War II
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At the conclusion of World War II, large labor strikes swept the country. Although there were some isolated strikes involving several local Teamsters organizations, overall the union stayed out of these conflicts.
It was during the post-war period that a growing number of other types of workers became a part of the teamsters. This included railway workers, brewery workers and others drawn from "blue collar" professions.
Hoffa Era
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Dave Beck, with the support of Jimmy Hoffa (a rising powerhouse in the union), took the presidency of the Teamsters when Tobin retired. During this period, the Mafia started to exert influence over the Teamsters. By 1957, Beck's connection with corrupt activity and ongoing congressional investigations resulted in the election of Jimmy Hoffa as Teamsters president. Hoffa was not permitted to assume the presidency until 1958 when he was acquitted in a federal case involving wiretapping.
The AFL had merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations by this time. The AFL-CIO ejected the Teamsters from its membership, believing that the corruption in the Teamsters would spread to other member unions and increase governmental scrutiny.
Hoffa proved a powerful leader of the Teamsters--increasing both its membership and its influence. He also diverted Teamsters pension fund money to business interests connected with the Mafia. Ultimately, the U.S. Justice Department under Attorney General Robert Kennedy convicted Hoffa of witness tampering in 1964. Hoffa entered prison in 1967. Frank Fitzsimmons took control of the union while Hoffa was in prison.
Upon his release from prison, Hoffa gathered his supporters with the intent to run for president of the Teamsters. In 1975, Hoffa disappeared and is presumed dead although his body has never been found.
Recent History
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In the 1980s, Ron Carey became Teamsters president. He began the process of taking the union in a more moderate direction and away from its exclusive allegiance to the Democratic party. For example, in 1980 and 1984, the Teamsters endorsed Ronald Reagan for president. (Reagan was a union leader, having served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. Teamsters union members are fixtures on the crews of television shows and motion picture sets.) In 1988, the union endorsed George H.W. Bush. However, the majority of the union's donations continues to flow to Democrats.
The Teamsters were readmitted to the AFL-CIO in 1985.
More recently, the Teamsters is headed by Jimmy Hoffa's son, James P. Hoffa. The younger Hoffa was first elected in 1999. Under James P. Hoffa's tenure, the Teamsters has become affiliated with Change to Win, a labor federation composed primarily of unions that defected from the AFL-CIO.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Teamsters Logo, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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Comments
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A few of my ancestors were teamsters in Detroit before 1920 and I wanted to know about a P Hulman company. If anyone could give me any information, it would be appreciated.
