The Red Cross salutes the Teamsters

This is what we union thugs do on Thanksgiving morning.

People are noticing the extraordinary work of Teamsters who helped the New York region recover from Sandy.

The Red Cross sent out a memo yesterday that'll make you proud to be a Teamster:

The American Red Cross has received extraordinary volunteer support for Sandy relief activities from Teamster Union members within the most devastated areas in New York and New Jersey and throughout the country. It’s almost impossible to capture all that they have given in time and resources, but following are few examples.

• Loading hundreds of trucks with relief supplies at staging areas.
• Driving trucks to deliver desperately needed supplies to battered communities.
• Working at Red Cross shelters in mass care and distributing relief items.
• Setting up distribution sites at churches and community centers to cook hot meals and to sort through donated blankets, clothes and food.
• Posting videos on Facebook and other social media sites to bring attention to the plight of people and communities.
• Partnering with Red Cross and the National Guard to bring in essential items such as petrol and clean out rubble from homes and businesses.
• Opening up their homes to those who have lost theirs and offering hope that by sticking together “we will overcome Sandy, rebuild and move on.”

These examples represent but a smattering of what the Teamsters estimate to be hundreds of volunteers, including a corps of retirees, who took part in the operation. And many of the members did so at personal sacrifice even while struggling with their own losses. The Red Cross, indeed our nation, salutes the Teamsters and all union members who responded immediately and will continue to do so throughout the long-expected recovery period.

And today the New York Daily News reported sanitation workers (members of Teamtsers Local 831) have been applauded for removing debris:

New York City’s Strongest — members of the Sanitation Department — are some of the most popular people in the storm-ravaged neighborhoods. 

It’s a welcome change from some of the anger directed their way (many would say unfairly) after the dismal December 2010 snowstorm clean-up. 

Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty received a standing ovation during a recent packed meeting at Queens Borough Hall. Sanitation workers, who also suffered losses during the storm, have cleared more than 300,000 tons of debris since the storm.

We at TeamsterNation would like to recognize the three Teamsters pictured above: John Rieder, Local 202 trustee; Kevin McCaffery, Local 707 president; and Jimmy Gill, Local 202 shop steward. McCaffery lives in Lindenhurst, which was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. He put out the call for help, and on Thanksgiving morning the three men loaded and delivered cleaning supplies from MacArthur Airport, one of the Red Cross staging locations.

You make us all proud!