VIDEO: NYC carriage drivers thank public for support

For two years, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has tried to outlaw the beloved Central Park horse carriages that have become part of the fabric of the nation's largest city. And for two years, he has failed.

In fact, he has gone as far to admit he doesn't have the votes to get it done. That is simply amazing, given how much of a priority he made putting 300 horse-carriage drivers out of work once taking office. But it a testament to the resolve of those workers and Teamsters Local 553 who have stood side-by-side to stall the effort.

That said, the success of keeping New York City's iconic carriages going couldn't have been accomplished without the public and advocates like The New York Daily News. The drivers and the union are aware of that, so they made the video above to thank supporters, city residents and others from around the world for rallying to their side.

Teamster are winning the battle to save NYC horse carriages

Teamster Brother Steve Malone

The Teamster fight to save New York City's iconic horse carriage industry — and the jobs of 300 Local 553 members — is trotting along at full pace.

Since Mayor Bill de Blasio first announced his crusade to ban Central Park's horse carriages, Teamsters led by Joint Council 16 have locked arms with a diverse coalition of unions and other organizations standing in solidarity with the carriage drivers.

The mayor's war against the industry has suffered more setbacks since Teamsters held a spirited rally at City Hall last December. As Joint Council 16 tells us:

After he was elected in 2013, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio famously declared that he would ban Central Park's horse carriages on "Day One." 534 days later, the carriages are still rolling through the park, and a ban seems less likely than ever.

According to a report last week in the New York Post, de Blasio only has three City Council votes on his side in the key committee needed to move the ban legislation forward -- far short of majority:

Under the cover of budget negotiations, Mayor Bill de Blasio is trying to persuade City Council members to pass his proposed ban on Central Park’s carriage horses — but is coming up lame, sources told The Post.

The sources said de Blasio has lined up no more than three definite “yes” votes on the 13-member Transportation Committee, the first step in moving his legislation to the full council for a vote.

This development followed a City Council briefing hosted by Joint Council 16 in May with Dr. Joesph Bertone who studied the stress hormones in carriage horses. Bertone presented his findings to the City Council, explaining that the horses were not stressed, the Daily News reported:

Joe Bertone, who specializes in equine medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, made the presentation to Democratic City Councilman Rafael Espinal and representatives for several other members, including Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan) and Carlos Menchaca (D-Brooklyn).

Bertone’s study examined the horses’ cortisol levels, which can spike during stress, and found the horses were chilled out.

Reports this spring revealed that the consulting firm hired to conduct a legally mandated, impartial review of the proposed ban was extremely biased:

The consultant is supposed to be impartial, and the city says it is. But drivers counter that the hired firm can't be trusted. Here's why: the president and CEO on the firm's website has lent support to NYCLASS, the leading group pushing the ban.

The firm also lists as a client the company long led by NYCLASS' founder. It's also working to develop the Far West Side. Horse carriage drivers say their stables are valuable real estate.

This glaring conflict of interests was enough to put de Blasio's ban bill even further off track.

The struggle continues for New York Teamsters and the livelihoods of the carriage drivers. But once again Teamsters are proving that when we fight back, we win!

An awesome Labor Day for NYC, Milwaukee Teamsters!

Our Teamster brothers and sisters in New York and Milwaukee marched in Labor Day parades on Saturday, Sept. 6, and what parades they were. We received a terrific photo from Sister Deborah Schaefer, Teamsters Local 200 member, with none other than President Obama.

President Obama and Deborah Schaefer.

Jeff Bandur, business agent with Local 200, sent us the photo with a note saying Debbie works at the Nestle USA Burlington, Wisc., plant. She said, 

Labor Day 2014 is going to be one of the most memorable days in my life.  It started out early in the morning getting my Harley all shined up and ready for the annual Labor Day Parade where I meet up with my Teamster Brothers and Sisters of Local 200.  We assemble at 4th and Michigan in Milwaukee Wisconsin, where I received my Laborfest T-Shirt and tickets from my Union. 

This year we were honored by a visit from President Obama, he gave an INCREDIBLE speech to a crowd of Union Members, his message was inspiring and full of emotion, after his speech I was fortunate enough to shake his hand, in fact gave him a hug, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I would like to thank Local 200 Secretary Treasurer Tom Millonzi and President Tom Bennett for their leadership and involvement in Labor Day 2014.  

That same day, horse carriage drivers from Teamsters Local 553 marched in New York City's Labor Day Parade.

New York City, Labor Day Parade

"We don't just love New York... We ARE New York," tweeted Sister Christina Hansen (@CarriageCavalry).

And here's another great photo, and another great Tweet from Christina: 

"The Horse will always be the heart of the union." International Brotherhood of @Teamsters, 1916. #LaborDayParade pic.twitter.com/kRJdK6NBiT

Job-killer Scott Walker goes to New York City, and Teamsters are there to greet him

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker took a break from stifling jobs in his home state and flew to New York City for a fundraiser, where he was greeted by none other than Teamsters Local 553 President Demos Demopoulos -- and quite a few LOUD union members.

Demos said, 

We're all here to greet him and we wish he would just pass right through.

(Watch Demos at about 2:12.);

Labor Press reporter Mar Bussanich, the crowd was quite loud when Walker walked by. Our brothers and sisters in New York were exercised over Walker's union busting, and well they should be.  ;

A new report shows Walker's union-busting left Wisconsin with about 45,000 fewer jobs than would have been expected if the state kept up with historic trends -- or with neighboring states.

American Bridge tells us Wisconsin's economy was recovering before Walker took office.

 But by September of 2013, after three years under Gov. Walker and his hyper-conservative policies, Wisconsin had recovered a fewer percentage of its jobs than Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana. The state’s job gap doubled in Walker’s first year, and increased again in his second year. 

This report is more than just a confirmation that Scott Walker’s agenda has been bad for Wisconsin. It’s a real-world indictment of the very policies that the Republican Party constantly champions. We’ve been told time and time again that if only we slashed taxes and shrank government, the free market would bring prosperity to all. But this austere path has only stifled once-booming job growth in Wisconsin, and the state is set to spend $559 million more than it takes in next year.

Help save New York City's horse carriage industry!

Teamster Brother Steve Malone

Our Teamster brothers and sisters in New York City are fighting to save 300 good Teamster jobs and the iconic horse carriage industry.

The horse carriages in New York are highly regulated, and Central Park horses are treated humanely and respectfully. The horses work no more than nine hours a day, are protected from working in extreme weather conditions, receive five weeks of vacation a year, must pass bi-annual physicals by veterinarians, and also receive retirement.

Not only are the horses well cared for, but this industry also supports hundreds of New York City workers who are employed as drivers, stable workers, and blacksmiths, as well as their families.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is trying to ban the horse carriages, so we need your help to save them. A huge majority of New Yorkers oppose banning the carriage horses, along with the New York Times, the Daily News, the New York Post, and Liam Neeson. It seems like the only person in New York who wants to ban the horses from Central Park is Bill de Blasio.

Please tell your Council Member to defend our Teamster brothers and sisters. Click here to find your Council Member. 

On almost every other issue, the Teamsters support Mayor de Blasio - but we can't stand by while 300 workers, who have done nothing wrong, lose their jobs. 

Please contact your Council Member and tell him/her to support good Teamster jobs in New York City and oppose the Mayor’s plan to shut down the famous Central Park horse carriage industry. Click here to find your Council Member and send a message today. 

Thank you for standing with them.

Teamster horse carriage drivers take their case to the public

Our brothers and sister Teamsters who drive horse carriages through New York City's Central Park are fighting hard to keep their livelihoods. The city's new mayor, Bill deBlasio, wants to ban the horse carriages because -- he says -- they're inhumane.

First of all, the horses are contented and well-cared for.

Second of all, what's humane about depriving 130 people of their livelihoods?

The drivers are taking their case to the public, demonstrating how well they treat the horses. They're also suggesting the real reason for the proposed ban is a key deBlasio supporter is a real estate developer with an eye on the horses' stables.

People are paying attention.

Most recently, the Wall Street Journal, of all newspapers, puts the carriage drivers' plight into perspective, pointing out their transition to new careers would be difficult. Career counselors suggested they could go into sales, or become hotel concierges.

The city has its own plan for the drivers, of course. A proposal kicking around City Hall would have operators trading their carriage medallions for permits to drive antique replica cars around the park. 

The response? Scorn and derision. "It's ridiculous," said driver Ian McKeever, watching a crowd of girls crowding around Molly, his patient Percheron. "These kids can't pet a mechanical car or give it carrots. The horse and carriage are like the gondolas in Venice."

Here's what us union thugs do at Christmas

We collect toys and money for poor children, feed the hungry and hold parties for the needy, that's what we do.

Teamsters who drive carriages in New York's Central Park raised money and collected food for the city's homeless. Teamster Magazine recently reported on the good works of carriage driver Stephen Malone and Eve Hughes. Malone, along with Hughes husband Tommy, are members of Teamsters Local 553.

New York Horse and Carriage Association brought 500 pounds worth of boxes of pasta, along with cases of canned vegetables, tuna, chicken broth and other foodstuffs, the magazine reported. They also brought money to City Harvest in a horse-drawn carriage led by Olympia, a 13-year-old Belgian draft horse.

Farther north, Teamsters Local 25 donated $60,000 worth of toys to charities. According to The Boston Globe,  

...the union has spent the past 14 years collecting toys from dispatch stations in many communities and town organizations, helping to bring toys to children in need.

"We always hope to meet or beat the previous year," said Local 25's business agent Bob Fabrizio.

In Florida, Teamsters threw a party for kids at the SafeHouse of Jacksonville at the union hall. In Harrison, N.Y., they donated money to buy families who relied on the lcoal food pantry a movie outing for the holidays. In Mississauga, Canada, Local 938's Retiree Club gave money and toys to the local Santa Claus Fund.

Those are just a few things us union thugs do at Christmas.