President Of Joint Council 53 and Local 107 Recognized For Contributions to Labor Movement

April 18, 2008  

(Philadelphia) – Bill Hamilton, President of Teamsters Joint Council 53 and President of Local 107 in Philadelphia, is being honored Saturday, April 19, 2008, as the Irish-American Labor Leader of the Year by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 40 in Philadelphia.

Hamilton will be presented the award at a dinner recognizing the contributions made by the Irish to the American labor movement.

Hamilton is a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia. He became a Teamster in 1966 working at Spector Motors. He also served in the Army as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, and spent 13 months in Vietnam. After his return and discharge, he went to work for McLean Trucking, where he was elected shop steward.

In 1990, Hamilton was appointed as an organizer for Local 107 and later elected as business agent. He held that position until 2000, when he was elected President of Local 107. In 2003, Hamilton became an officer of Joint Council 53, and was elected President in 2007.

Saturday’s award being presented to Hamilton honors the memory of 10 Irishmen who were hanged in the Pennsylvania coal region on June 21, 1877, in retaliation for their bravery in standing up for deplorable labor conditions in the mines.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.