Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and time to reconnect with your family and friends.

As we look to 2017, working people across our country will be facing many challenges. As we approach these challenges, we must strengthen our collective resolve to stand together and confront attacks on our unity.

Make no mistake – our opponents attack us because we bargain strong contracts and defend the rights of working people.  They attack us because we strengthen community by providing scholarships, building strong coalitions, supporting organizations that share our values, and providing financial assistance to members who have endured immeasurable hardship.

"Unity and standing together as Teamsters is a top priority for 2017."

Internal attacks and infighting can cause damage and create divisiveness as well.

As we work to achieve this unity, we also need to heal internally and come together, irrespective of the box we marked in these past elections. Campaign season is over and the voters have spoken. Any effort to continue campaigning only serves individual agendas and reopens old wounds that need to heal.

Regardless of the source, we as Teamsters can’t let these attacks set us back. Solidarity and unity are built from an understanding and concern for every worker’s right to live with dignity and respect. Identifying and setting goals that serve the collective and sharing a commitment to true unity will enable us to coalesce into a powerful voice that labor needs more now than ever. 

Unity and standing together as Teamsters is a top priority for 2017. Join me in walking together through the challenges we face toward that goal.

Thank you for all that you do.

In Solidarity,

John Scearcy
Secretary-Treasurer