More than 200 peace officers and Local 237 officials were joined by James P. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, at a rally Jan. 31 calling for increased legislative protections for members who risk their lives at work every day. Local 237 Secretary-Treasurer Gregory Floyd opened the rally in the auditorium at Eastern District High School in Brooklyn with a moment of silence for civil rights icon Coretta Scott King, who died that day. [See “In Memory of Two Civil Rights Giants,” p. 8].

Addressing the gathering of law enforcement officers, including school safety agents, campus peace officers, hospital police, TLC inspectors, special officers and parking control specialists, Floyd outlined the issues faced by many of those present, such as the need for uniform bargaining rights, three-quarter disability benefits, and civil service status for school safety agents.

Teamsters General President James R. Hoffa, center, is flanked by school safety agents at Brooklyn North Command. To his left is Local 237 Secretary-Treasurer Gregory Floyd and to his right are President Carl Haynes and Business Agent Steve Gordon.

Affirming renewed action, Local 237 President Carl Haynes said, “I tell you brothers and sisters, we have a crusade going to make your lives better.” Haynes assured peace officers that he will “go back to Albany this year to re-introduce the three-quarter disability bill,” adding, “You are our priority and we’re working very hard.” Haynes emphasized that as a vice president on the IBT’s Executive Board and president of its largest local, “We will use the International’s power to get what we need.”

IBT President Hoffa preceded his rousing speech by calling for a moment of silence in memory of SSA Vivian Samuels, the first female peace officer to die in the line of duty. “She was a woman doing her job, like all of us, trying to tell a youngster what to do,” said Hoffa, adding, “Like Samuels, you believe in your work and you do it as Teamsters.”

Putting beliefs into action, more than 200 school safety agents recently packed a City Council hearing on the merits of placing SSAs in the civil service competitive class, so they can receive many of the protections and benefits available to police and special officers who perform similar work. At the hearing, held Dec. 14, just two days before SSA Samuels’ death, Council Member and chairman Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., said he was impressed with the show of support and strong testimonies, and pledged continued support of the union’s efforts.

Calling for justice, Hoffa assured the crowd that he supports Local 237’s efforts on behalf of peace officers, adding, “We’re going to get someone in office that stands for Teamsters.” Such a political ally, said Hoffa, would approve bills that “give you safety,” such as having a separate bargaining unit. But, he added, “You must register to vote.” Hoffa warned that Mayor Bloomberg proposed in his State of the City address that union members must be made to contribute to their health and pension benefits, while President Bush continues to push for tax cuts for the rich, who “don’t feel or see your bills.” He promised that the IBT will fight hard “to make sure there is justice and equity,” in a country where “the rich are getting richer.”

Hoffa offered his vision for a “great tomorrow,” when a New York State governor endorsed by the Teamsters will approve bills on behalf of peace officers. Noting that the Teamsters have endorsed New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s bid for governor, Hoffa again encouraged everyone to register to vote and assured them, “We’ll have a picture of [Spitzer] signing bills on our behalf.”

Earlier last month, on Jan. 9, Hoffa toured the School Safety hub at Brooklyn North Command and I.S. 390 where SSA Samuels had worked until she died on Dec. 16. Shaking hands with agents as they worked, Hoffa, who is based in Washington, D.C., offered condolences to Samuels’ colleagues and assured them that her two surviving sons would receive generous benefits as a result of their mother’s 24-year membership with Teamsters Local 237. [See sidebar on the right.]