Hoffa Rallies Teamsters in L.A., San Jose to Vote 'No On Prop 32'

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Oct 06, 2012, 06:35 ET

Teamsters General President Calls on Members to Protect Their Voice in Politics

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa traveled across California to attend union rallies in Los Angeles and San Jose and get out the vote to defeat Proposition 32, a measure that seeks to prohibit unions from having a voice in politics while creating exemptions that would give more power to corporate special interests.

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Pushed under the guise of campaign finance reform to "stop special interests," Proposition 32 is specifically aimed at crippling unions while allowing corporate special interests to continue their free-wheeling spending through Super PACs. Hoffa spent Thursday and Friday visiting members at worksites in Los Angeles to help them understand the dangers the measure represents and why they should vote "No On Prop 32".

"Proposition 32 is an attack on union workers by the same anti-union, corporate special interests that have waged war against organized labor across the country since the beginning of 2011," Hoffa said. "Everything that Prop. 32 represents must be defeated here and now – California is the frontline of this battle. If we allow this anti-worker measure to go forward, it could spread across the country, further weakening our middle class."

In rallies in Los Angeles and San Jose, Teamster leaders joined Hoffa to denounce the Proposition 32 and educate hundreds of members about what the measure truly represents.

"Prop 32, at its core, is an attack on workers, plain and simple," said Randy Cammack, International Vice President and President of Joint Council 42 in Los Angeles. "Prop. 32's supporters disguised their attack as a 'reform' measure, but everyone from major newspaper editorial boards to good-government groups all agree that Prop 32 is not at all what it seems."

Teamsters Locals and Joint Councils statewide have registered more than 25,000 new voters from their union ranks - roughly 10 percent of the entire Teamster membership in California. The rallies were scheduled for this weekend to help mobilize Teamster members across the state that will receive their absentee ballots this week.

"Proposition 32 is bad for California's families, communities and middle class," said Rome Aloise, International Vice President and President of Joint Council 7. "We must all join together to make sure that Proposition 32 is defeated in November."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters