American Teamsters to invade' Europe?
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Jail-freed ex-president Jimmy Hoffa may spearhead a UK spring offensive
by John Darker
• An audacious entry into European transport trade unionism is planned by the giant American Teamsters union. I understand that Mr Jimmy Hoffa, ex-president of the Teamsters, recently released from jail after serving several years of an eight-year sentence for jury tampering, is a key figure in the planning. His charisma in international trade union circles is as powerful as ever and he plans to visit Britain in the spring to renew contacts with a number of British trade union officials who could, conceivably, staff the Teamsters' set-up for Europe.
A number of experienced "second rank" British trade union officers have visited America in the past year. They have made a close study of the powerful Teamsters organization and of the ILA — the East Coast dockers' union led by the veteran Mr Teddy Gleason. The possibility of some joint European approach by the ILA and the Teamsters cannot be ruled out since the pressure for entry to Europe derives momentum from the planned growth of containerization -and the rival barge-carrying ships described as LASH (Lighters aboard ships).
The Teamsters union began to plan the organization of a springboard in Europe at
least three years ago. They watched the progress of chemical workers' unions, world-wide — recently manifested by internationally co-ordinated strikes in the tyre industry — and saw the necessity to involve themselves in the European side of the Atlantic "pond". It is fortuitous that the Teamsters have much experience of roll-on /roll-off barges and ships by virtue of their being allowed to organize the labour employed on the Great Lakes services in North America, which convey vast tonnages of lorry-mounted goods. Consequently, the union does not fight shy of involvement in the European arena, where the English Channel and Europe's extensive river system are analogous.
The expected inroads of the LASH system on both sides of the Atlantic will profoundly effect transport and docking trade unions. In a world of giant, often American-dominated, international corporations it is not surprising that trade unions are also thinking internationally.
The Teamsters' timing is shrewd, for other reasons. Their highly professional executives have been well briefed on the British scene by visitors. The Teamsters know about the fratricidal strife between dockers and drivers in the TGWU, and of the approaching retirement of a number of prominent transport trade union bosses.
What more natural than to choose fot timing the entry of Britain into the Commor Market, when public opinion is confuseC and angry, and lorry drivers may b( attracted by the resources and discipline( strength of the Teamsters?
The pension scheme of the Teamsters li said to equal 100 per cent of their basic pa!
— which is itself vastly higher than the pa! of British drivers. American dockers pensions are understood to be 90 per cent o basic pay. British trade union visitors hay' been inpressed to learn of the rights won b: US dockers to handle container stuffing am stripping within 50 miles of ports, wit] drastic sanctions against any haulage fire or driver offending against the rules.
The fragmentary transport trade union in the Common Market, irrelevantl organized on a religious basis in man cases, also offer fertile soil for recruiting b the Teamsters, or by a new European unio controlled by them.
British trade unions may not welcom this incursion by the Teamsters but tl energy that might have been drawn upon t resist it has been largely expended in ti strife surrounding industrial relatior legislation. The Teamsters may draw bat after a more detailed Europea reconnaissance; there are political facto which could deter an early move. The fe transport managers in the UK who ha, seen the Teamsters' organization at fir hand will wonder how it would transpla into Britain and Europe.