09/20/2024
Honoring Our Legacy, Standing Strong for Our Future
As a proud member of a family that helped found the Teamsters Union, I’ve always believed in the power of solidarity, community, and the unwavering spirit that built this incredible organization. Today, I find myself deeply concerned about the direction our union is heading.
Currently, the Teamsters are without a president, leaving us without the strong leadership that our forefathers worked so hard to establish. In these challenging times, we face unprecedented threats from those who oppose our values. From political figures like Trump who have consistently shown disdain for unions, to his cronies who seem intent on undermining our efforts, the fight for workers' rights has never been tougher.
Our family's legacy was built on trust, mutual support, and the belief that together, we can achieve anything. It's disheartening to see our union struggle to uphold these foundational principles. We must remember why we joined the Teamsters in the first place: to protect each other, to fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and to ensure that every member has a voice.
But our strength lies in our community. Now more than ever, we need to come together, support one another, and reaffirm our commitment to the values that made the Teamsters a beacon of hope for so many. Let’s honor our past by fighting for a future where every worker is valued and every voice is heard.
To my fellow Teamsters: Let's stand united against those who seek to divide us. Let's rebuild our leadership with integrity and vision. And let's continue to foster the sense of community that has always been the heart of our union.
Together, we can overcome these challenges and ensure that the legacy of our families and the Teamsters continues to thrive for generations to come.
John Murray Gillespie, “Gil” or “Jack” to his friends, might not be the most prominent of the early leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, but his influence in the development and the growth of both Local 25 and the International Union is ever present. His dedication to the c...