Daryl Boyd: Local 813

Daryl Boyd, a member of Local 813 in New York, believes that while it is good to know about black history, it is just as important to know about labor history.

“So many young brothers and sisters are joining unions and not knowing what unions are about. Black history is important, but labor history—history in general—is important to know as well,” he said.

Boyd works for City Waste Services of New York and says that new members should immediately be taught about Teamster history as soon as they join the union.

“There should be an orientation package to give them the first day they enter the door to tell them what the history is and what the Teamsters do,” said Boyd, a member of the Teamsters National Black Caucus.

Boyd’s emphasis on young Teamsters knowing labor history and the sacrifices of earlier generations of Teamster men and women is crucial in a period when anti-union groups are continually trying to weaken organized labor and prevent more workers from being organized. One key tool he sees for unions to counter this is the Employee Free Choice Act.

“This is a struggle and they need to continue to fight for their families,” Boyd said. “That’s why the Employee Free Choice Act needs to be passed. We need to mobilize to see that it happens.”

A Teamster since 1998, Boyd recognizes the rewards that come from being a Teamster, especially when compared to the plight of nonunion workers.

“One thing I am really comfortable about at the end of the day is that when I retire I have good benefits. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. But a lot of people don’t have good union benefits and don’t have that light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Another reason for fighting for the union, Boyd said, is that it is an organization that has celebrated diversity long before there was anything like Black History Month.

“The Teamsters are a diverse union and everybody’s culture is important. If you go back to 1903, there were black men that were Teamsters. It’s important to look at where we came from and where we started. It’s very important for us to keep that going.”