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About the National Parking Council The National Parking Council is an organization of Local Unions who represent Teamster men and women employed in the parking industry and related fields. Only a few years ago, Local Unions began meeting to discuss ways they could assist each other such as in organizing campaigns and in labor disputes. It immediately became evident that the unity and mutual support of these local unions was essential, particularly because of the dominance of several national parking companies in the industry. General President James P. Hoffa agreed. He also made the Council an integral part of the Industrial Trades Division. Today, the National Parking Council has identified nearly 30,000 Teamster Brothers and Sisters employed in the parking industry. It estimates another 60,000 workers who are unorganized. In the past, many of these members worked for small companies. Today, however, many work for large corporations, a trend that is expected to continue in the future. These members fill such service positions as cashiers, valet parking attendants, hikers, porters and shuttle bus drivers. While providing a much-needed service to society, these workers often face low wages, minimal or no benefits, and poor working conditions including exposure to carbon monoxide and safety hazards. The local unions who represent these members are committed to improving the wages, benefits and working conditions for these hardworking and dedicated workers, as well as bringing them recognition and respect. One important way to do this is through participation in the National Parking Council. Through the National Parking Council, local unions from across the country meet and exchange information on companies and issues relevant to the parking industry. They provide solutions to problems and support for each other that extends far beyond these meetings. The Council also achieves identified goals through the work of its three committees: the Organizing Committee, chaired by Ernie Yates of Local 665 in San Francisco; the Research Committee, chaired by Ray Whitmer of Local 911 in Los Angeles; and the Newsletter Committee, chaired by Fred Alston of Local 272 in New York. Through the Organizing Committee, unorganized parking workers and the local unions with jurisdiction over them are identified. The committee provides assistance in organizing campaigns as well as in the collection and development of organizing materials targeted toward the parking industry. The Research Committee serves as a central collection point for contracts and other data covering the industry. The committee organizes this data and distributes it to local unions as needed. The Newsletter Committee keeps the Council Participants and the Teamsters parking members informed through the Industrial Trades Division newsletter and maintenance of a Council web site. This committee serves as a collection point for articles and other materials for these publications. The National Parking Council is a branch of the Industrial Trades Division. Steve Mack, director of that division, has been very active in the Council and extremely supportive of it. The council welcomes participation by any local union who currently represents parking members or is interested in organizing them. The Council can be contacted through the Industrial Trades Division at (202) 624-7487.
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