CHUCK MACK BEGAN HIS CAREER as a Teamster in 1962, loading trucks and driving. He spent the next 47 years working to ensure that Teamster drivers—in Local 70, in the western region and across the nation— maintained excellent benefits and meaningful work. He will step down at the end of May from all of his Teamster positions to become the union co-chair of the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust.

Sit down with Chuck and he can tell you stories about struggles with employers, politics and the way the industry has changed. But what gets him most charged up is his devotion to the membership. “It's always been about the members—that's been what's made the job fun,” he says.

“The most rewarding part of the job is that I meet with members on company time and listen to what they have to say. All my career, I've kept responsibility for terminals; currently, I have Mills College and Rodgers Trucking. That contact with members keeps me grounded and reminds me why I got in this. Unfortunately, the higher you go with the Teamsters, the farther away you get from the members.”

Mack says he's had numerous opportunities to watch how having a union improves people's lives. “When we first organized Oakland Scavenger, now Waste Management, most of the workers were from Mexico and their main interest was just getting money to send back to Mexico. They didn't really care about the jobs. But we gave those jobs value. We got those workers health benefits and pensions, the ability to provide for their families and dignity for their work. They soon became the union's strongest supporters.”

Making life better for the members has been Chuck's charge through his entire Teamster career. “Our members have better health care coverage than most CEOs and 90% of the workers in this country. I'm proud of that.” That's why he's worked so hard for the port drivers to organize, not only in Oakland, but across the nation.

Chuck was first elected as a business agent in 1966. Three years later, he was re-elected with the largest number of votes in Local 70's history.

In 1971, he was asked to go to Sacramento to work with the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council to lobby the legislature. “This was a fascinating learning experience about how government worked, but I knew it wasn't the career direction for me. I was following policy, not setting it,” he said. That experience proved useful, however, when Chuck became chair of the Teamsters Public Affairs Council.

As soon as the 1971 legislative session was over—and it turned out to be the longest in history—Mack made his way back to the East Bay and ran for the position of Secretary-Treasurer of Local 70. He won the four-way race handily, and has maintained the position ever since.

“Jimmy Muniz was president of the local and frankly, we had been rivals. But once I was elected, we forged a bond out of our differences that ultimately held the union together. Our strength was our militant support of our members, getting good contracts, and being progressive. We brought stability to the local that it hadn't seen for 20 years.”

Mack was elected to serve on the Joint Council in 1972, and became President in 1982. He was elected Western Region Vice President in 1996 on the Hoffa ticket. These positions expanded the reach of his work for Teamsters.

He talks with pride of the fourmonth strike at Fleming Foods in 1989, when 4,000 Teamsters across the nation were mobilized to go out in support of Local 70 members, who saw their contract gutted. “This showed us the power of acting jointly. Ultimately, an arbitrator restored what the company had taken away and everyone could hold their heads high.”

With the Watsonville Canning/ Richard Shaw fight on behalf of Local 912, Mack says he saw firsthand, the power of money. “We learned that the company wanted refinancing from Wells Fargo so they could keep the strike going. We informed the bank that the pension plan, which had billions invested at the time, might move those investments if the financing went through. Suddenly, after the members had been on strike for two years, we had a new contract in two days. It was Teamsters at our best.”

Some of the biggest challenges that Mack faced during his tenure were the deregulation of the trucking industry, which made good union employers uncompetitive and put them out of business, and the trade agreements, like NAFTA and the WTO, which were neither free nor fair. “The common thread was that these basically changed the rules of the game to the advantage of those with money. And they were both supported by the Democrats. That was the most frustrating aspect.”

Mack says that the biggest challenge he sees in the future will be passing the Employee Free Choice Act. “It's our turn to change the rules of the game, because the system, as it's evolved, is decidedly in favor of management. Passing EFCA will have consequences for the labor movement and for the middle class.”

Due to the sudden death of longtime pension trust chair Tony Lock, Mack decided that the time was right to make a move, and he will become pension trust chair on June 1. Chuck is coming to the position with some experience; as a trustee since 1981, he's the longest-serving trustee on the union side.

“It's going to be a challenge. Certainly, we need a turnaround in the economy to reverse the disastrous outcomes of 2008. The Western Conference Fund got hit in 2008 like every other plan, but not as hard as some of the others. We have to watch it closely to protect the interests of our members and their families.

“Chuck Mack is one of the most dedicated and engaged labor leaders I have ever worked with and I will miss his counsel and friendship,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “I wish him well in his future endeavors.”

The Joint Council Executive Board met on April 22 and elected Local 853 Secretary-Treasurer Rome Aloise to become Joint Council 7 President as of June 1. Aloise was also named to the IBT Vice Presidential slot until the next election.

At the end of this month, I will end my career as an elected Teamster representative. I'll step down as President of Joint Council 7, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 70 and Vice President Western Region for the International Union.

It's been quite a journey. I was first elected Business Agent for Local 70 forty-three years ago this month. In 1972, I was elected Secretary-Treasurer and, that same year, asked to serve on the Joint Council Executive Board by its' President, Joe Diviny, who also served as an International Vice President.

I was elected Joint Council President in 1982. Who would have believed that this at-time wayward Local 70 member, whose first steady job was Garrett Freight Lines, would end up as the second longest serving president of Joint Council 7 (Mike Casey of Local 85 holds the

record - 30 years, 1907-1937).

To those who might wonder…I'm in good health aside from the aches and pains that comes to someone in their 60s, and I am not retiring.

My co-Trustees – Union side – of the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust, have asked me to fill the co-chair vacancy created by the untimely death of Tony Lock. I've accepted and beginning June 1 st , will perform that roll full time.

It was not an easy decision. I have loved representing members, handling their grievances, negotiating their contracts and organizing the unorganized. I love visiting work sites (barns when I first started) and talking, laughing and arguing with the rank and file. More important, listening to what they had to say. Teamster members are smart - okay, I've met a couple exceptions over the years – but they know what they want and, generally, how to get it.

Working with our Locals over the years was just as fulfilling. We've accomplished a great deal. Who can forget the beverage strike of 1972...the chain store disputes of the late ‘70s and ‘80s…the Fleming Foods strike of 1988…and our battle with Safeway in the early ‘90s? And one of the toughest of all…the Local 912 Richard Shaw/Watsonville canning dispute that lasted over two years. Add to all of this, the strikes in Freight and the battle at UPS in ‘96. It was a busy, exciting and challenging time. Over all, we did well because of the commitment and courage of our Local Union leaders and the patience, guts and discipline of our members.

Moving to the Pension Trust will also have its challenges. The depth of the economic turndown in 2008, was unexpected and severe. My new position will require constant oversight of the Plan and leadership that will protect the benefits for our members and their families. I look forward to the opportunity.

Moving to the Pension will also be a lifestyle change. I'll be doing one job rather than five and that means more time for family – Marlene, our four daughters, sons-in-law, and our eight grandchildren.

Over the years, I've missed much…the birth of a daughter, high school graduation - let alone back-to-school nights, first dates, birthdays, anniversaries and so many of the games…soccer, softball, basketball, etc. I want to be part of that in the future - so it's time.

The challenge ahead for the Teamsters is immense. There are no quick and easy solutions but, as in the past, the combination of strong leadership and strong members insures that we will prevail.

The Joint Council 7 Executive Board has chosen Rome Aloise to serve as President. Rome will also replace me as International Vice President. A good choice for both positions. No one works harder and he has proven over the years that he can solve problems and deliver for Teamster members. The Joint Council is in good hands.

To our Locals, officers, officials, staff and members – thank you for your help, generosity and support. There is no greater honor than being elected by your co-workers to represent them. Likewise, there is no greater responsibility. I've always tried to remember that.

Over the last four decades, you gave me something that is invaluable, something that few people receive – a cause rather than a job.

May God bless you and your families,

In union,

Chuck Mack