Teamsters Vice President Fred Potter To Head Port Division

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced today the appointment of At-Large Vice President Fred Potter of New Jersey as Director of the union’s Port Division. Potter, who has devoted his career to raising living standards for America’s workers, will replace departing Western Region Vice President Chuck Mack on June 1.

“Misclassified independent contractors at our nation’s ports are the most exploited truck drivers, and they need protections that only a strong Teamster contract can provide,” Hoffa said. “I’m proud of the extraordinary progress towards economic and environmental justice we have achieved under the leadership of Chuck Mack, and I am confident that Fred Potter will build on this success and provide the direction necessary to finally secure the American Dream for these workers.”

Potter’s reputation as a bridge builder with political, environmental and community leaders in New Jersey makes him ideally-suited to lead the Teamsters Port Division in its quest to move the American port industry beyond the failed economic model that has only delivered dirty air and dead-end jobs to metropolitan trade hubs along the nation’s coastlines.

Mack said Potter’s selection is an example of the union’s unwavering commitment to transform port trucking into a stable and growing industry that rewards and values its drivers, and helps responsible companies compete. Mack will next month assume the helm of the Western Conference Teamster Pension Trust following the death of Chairman Tony Lock. This new role requires him to resign his position as Port Division Director, which he has held since 2003, as well as retire from his longtime posts as International Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 70 and President of Joint Council 7.

“Fred understands that 21st century challenges require sound policies to take care of the environment, our economy, and the workers who depend on both,” said Mack, who played an instrumental role in garnering Congressional support for the Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program. “Always full of humor, he earns your respect even in moments of disagreement because he listens to and works with all stakeholders to achieve effective solutions for business and labor alike.”

Potter will continue to serve as President of Local 469 in Hazlet and has recently been appointed to his second five-year term as a Commissioner to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. The current Sergeant-in-Arms with the New Jersey State Democratic Party, Potter is also the former Chairman to the Ocean County Democratic Committee. He is active in the Coalition for Healthy Ports, the sister “blue-green” coalition on the East Coast to the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle.
Said Amy Goldsmith, Director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation: “Fred is a tremendous asset to our local effort to clean up dirty diesel. He is able to demonstrate the undeniable link between economic conditions and the environmental crisis at our ports. We’re proud to have the working families of the Teamsters united behind all the truck drivers, environmentalists, public health and community advocates who are demanding a real solution to end poverty and port pollution.”

Southern California leaders who helped enact a comprehensive LA policy to dramatically reduce deadly diesel emissions, improve port security and safety, and create middle-class port jobs welcomed the news of Potter’s new role.

“Chuck Mack will be missed, but I know his successor shares his commitment to environmental and economic justice at the ports,” said Candice Kim of the Coalition for Clean Air. “Dirty trucks and the plight of ‘independent’ truck drivers pose a major risk for public health and the communities along our transportation corridors. I look forward to working with Fred to fight back freight pollution and improve the air we breathe.”

Potter announced that his first initiative as Division Director will be to launch a website providing real-time information and data on the drayage industry as a source for companies and corporations in the global supply chain.
He is undeterred by industry clean-air opponents’ efforts to block Southern California’s Clean Trucks Programs. Despite its members’ participation, the American Trucking Association obtained an initial ruling that will allow trucking companies to evade new requirements to own trucks or employ truck drivers, pending full trial.

“The ruling clearly demonstrates we cannot let 20th century laws continue to govern a key American industry in which the challenges of the 21st century – globalization and global warming – collide,” said Potter. “Industry greed and bullying threatens the 87 million Americans at heightened risk for asthma, cancer, and other respiratory diseases because they live in communities adjacent to 40 U.S. ports that fail to meet federal air quality standards, and the 88,000 port drivers nationwide who could be forced to take out huge truck loans just to keep their hauling jobs.

“I am determined to build on Chuck’s remarkable record of leadership to achieve a sustainable and accountable solution to these problems,” Potter added. “Working together with our powerful environmental-community-labor coalition, we will prevail.”
The LA model has been petitioned for by nearly 10,000 independent port drivers in California and is supported by President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, along with other influential Members of Congress.

The incoming leader will be traveling to port cities nationwide in coming weeks to meet with drivers, community organizations, political and industry leaders.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.