Welcome from the Desk of the President

Joseph Valenti, President

I wish to welcome you to the Teamsters Local 214 website.

Included is a brief history and structure of the largest Teamsters Local in the state of Michigan.

I have dedicated my entire adult life to this Local, its principle, and its membership. Over the years of my presidency, we have had to make numerous changes to meet the ever-changing demands of the times and the needs of our membership. We have had to restructure the Local and adapt our system of representation, as well as to hire a diverse group of staff representatives with multifaceted public sector backgrounds.

Different times bring different problems. Today, we are faced with problems that are considered more critical than those faced in prior years. In some cases, demands for concessions have altered many agreements and, in all cases, have slowed gains in wages and benefits. However, subcontracting of our jobs may be our worst enemy today.

There was a time when public employees were paid about half as much as private sector employees in equal classifications. Now, because of our success at the bargaining table, many of our contracts pay higher than comparable contracts in the private sector. The need for a union is greater today than it was yesterday. Laid off private sector workers are now demanding less taxes and more services, and are carefully monitoring our negotiations in their respective areas. Grievance litigation is on the increase and so is the cost of defending it.

Because of our aggressive pursuit of your rights and benefits throughout the years, the Public Employment Relations Act has been altered. Because of the support of our membership and the loyalty to a basic philosophy shared by everyone, we have accomplished the greater good for the mutual interest and benefit of all.

As public employees, our members have a unique strength not afforded to workers in the private sector. They can vote their employers out of office and elect more supportive individuals to serve those positions.

Much has been written about the history of your Local Union. It has been tested; it has survived that test, and because of it, it has grown in strength. We are proud of our heritage and of the men and women who helped forge it. Whether it survives and continues to grow depends on you – YOU are its future. As long as we stick together and trust each other, we as a people and as a union are unbeatable.

We pledge to you the full support of our Executive Board and staff.