Teamsters Local 79

Teamsters Local No. 79

Welcome to Teamsters Local 79's web site. This web site has been established for our members, their families and individuals seeking information about the Teamsters Organization. We encourage your comments on the educational value, user friendliness and contents of this web site.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters celebrated their 100th year as an organization in 2003. Just pause for a minute and reflect on the history of our country for the last 100 years and think of all the companies, organizations, laws, wars, U.S. Presidents, depressions, recessions and other issues that have come and gone. During that time, the Teamsters have continued to survive. This is as a result of a strong foundation, it's leadership and membership. Our forefathers designed a format (the IBT Constitution) that outlined the rules and procedures for the continued growth of our International, Joint Councils and Local Unions. If you are not 100% membership at your work site and you are willing to make it 100%, call your Business Agent or myself to learn how we can accomplish that goal. This is why the Teamsters is one of just a few International Unions that are successful in our organizing efforts today with a strong master, area and local contracts. This is why the Teamsters are looked upon by other International Unions as the leader and trend setter in the labor movement.

Local 79 can boast a little too. We are proud of our Local Union's history. Local 79 has been representing members and negotiating contracts in southwest Florida for more than sixty years. We have to acknowledge our forefathers for our success in their willingness, wisdom and courage to take the stance to create better working conditions and job security for themselves and future generations.

Local 79 was chartered by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 1939 as a general Local Union. In our 65 plus year history, we have organized and represented just about every imaginable job possible. Local 79 has had a proud history in the representation of our members and organizing the unorganized. Without our continued commitment and dedication to organize the unorganized, Local 79's membership would not be as strong as it is today.

Local 79's jurisdiction covers Southwest Florida, Collier County north to Citrus County, and anywhere in between. Presently Local 79 represents approximately 40 companies, at nearly 100 different locations.

Now is the time to take the next step on behalf of our forefathers to carry on their heritage. Or, will you merely wait for tomorrow or someone else to take the first step. The question has to be asked, would we be here today if our forefathers had that attitude? That is why it is so important we we are involved with the IBT and the Local Union. Today Unions are being attacked on two fronts, big business and the government. Remember, we must elect our politicians to represent and protect us, not to destroy us. If our representatives are not listening to us, then it is obvious they are not aware of our issues. This translates, if they are not helping us, then they must be hurting us.

It's time to organize our strength in the political arena by having one collective voice. Our voice to politicians has to be that they must listen to our concerns and act on them or we will find a politician who will. They have their hand out for our vote and contributions towards their campaigns, so I don't think it is too much to ask for their support on our issues and concerns. At one time there were as many as four different Teamster Locals in the Tampa Bay area. But due to plant closing, downsizing and/or outsourcing, the remaining members were merged into Local 79. Today is the time to take that stance for our future and future generations. Tomorrow is too late.

We encourage all our members to attend their monthly General Membership Meeting at the Tampa Union Hall, at 9:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month (except June/July/August), and the second Saturday of December. Refreshments are provided after each meeting so we can relax and socialize with the Membership. It's a great opportunity to visit and share your experiences with the other Brothers and Sisters throughout Local 79's jurisdiction. Area meetings are also held in Ft. Myers.

Contact Information:

Officers & Staff:

LEGAL

Attorney Maria Kazouris spoke to our members at one of our General Membership Meetings. She works throughout Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties and can be contacted at PO Box 626, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688, (727) 361-5809, Fax (727) 493-5600.

You may contact her if you are in need of legal services for criminal, personal injury, labor/employment, or divorce. Her website is http://legalresults.net.

Teamsters Local 79 D.R.I.V.E. "I VOTE" Blue Canvas Chairs for sale $20.00 "Made in the USA" Chairs may be purchased during normal business hours or at our General Membership Meeting call Local 79 at (813) 621-1391

Teamsters Local 79 Forms and General Information

Benefits - Local 79 prides itself in providing and keeping the membership aware of a variety of services that the International and Local offers to its members. One of those services that is available only to the membership is "Teamster Privilege Benefits" which offers some of the following: legal services, loan program, credit cards, dental program, health discounts, travel discounts, and many more. Click the link to the left entitled Benefits to find out more.

Address Updates - Please keep your information current at the Local Union and give us a call if you have had a change of address or telephone number. It's our only way of contacting you!

Withdrawal Cards - Members who are not actively working have the opportunity to apply for a temporary withdrawal card. Please contact the Local Union to inquire as to the procedure to follow to go on a temporary withdrawal during this period of time.

Grievance Forms - Please click here for a Local 79 grievance form (PDF format). Please print, fill out the form completely and process it with your steward as outlined in your contact.

Local Union Forms - Please see below for the following forms (PDF format) which should be filled out and and submitted to the Local Union. Click here to get a free download of Adobe Acrobat.

Central States & BCBS Information

• Members can call Central States Toll Free at 1-800-323-5000 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST on Friday.
• Members may submit all non-medical claims (Vision and Dental) to Central States, P. O. Box 5116, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5116.
• Submit medical claims to BCBS of Florida, P. O. Box 1798, Jacksonville, FL 32231.
• Find providers at www.BCBS.com or www.centralstatesfunds.org.
• Participating providers to pre-certify all inpatient admissions, please call 1-800-635-1928.
• Eligibility or specific benefit information, please call 1-800-323-2190.
• Claim Status inquiries Hospitals and Physicians please call the local BCBS plan. Members please call 1-800-323-5000.
• You may e-mail the fund for your health and/or pension questions by checking this Central States page.

UPS Part-Time Health Insurance

• Aetna - P. O. Box 26190, Greensboro, NC 27402 (800) 238-6236Disability Benefits - Broadspire (866) 825-0186Member Benefits (800) 353-9877; Kemper Prescriptions (800) 272-7243
• Retirement Benefits - Attn: Retirement Plan, 55 Glenlake Pkwy, NE, Atlanta, GA 30328

IBT/UPS 401(k)

• Web Site - http://www.teamsterups401kplan.com or call (800) 537-0189.

National Teamsters 401(k)

• Web Site - Click here to visit the National 401k Web Site or Click here to enroll in the plan.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Teamsters Local Union 79 has made available to Members and Retirees a $4,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Benefit through American Income Life Insurance. Please call the office if you have any questions regarding payment of this benefit.

To find a list of employers with collective bargaining agreements with Local 79, please click here.
For a map to Local 79 using Mapquest, please click here.

Back to Local Union Map

This letter was read at a General Membership Meeting
by a member who appreciates the importance of a Union

There are 50 states in our great country; there are millions of miles of roads, and millions of people that use them. Cops, firemen, and EMS; they all try to control those roads and try to make it safe as possible for others. There are road construction crews who build them and maintain them. Most of these roads were built years ago before most of us were around, but there were people who planned these roads for the future of this country so everyone can get around as safely as possible. Horse and carriage, Model A Fords to 2008 Macks; all used these roads and still do.

BUT, the question is, would these roads have been built without the horse and buggy delivery, the crude one seater Mack truck, cement mixers, car haulers and all delivery trucks? Who was driving those trucks? Our grandfathers and great grandfathers who were working for low wages. Then it happened, most likely in a bar two people got together and said it's "TIME" a union began. Most people say it takes one to get a movement going, but when it comes to a union it takes two; we all stand together! If you stand by yourself there's no one to catch you falling or pick you up. Back in the day when you fell, the boss kicked you out of the way and replaced you. Not only did that mean he replaced you, he replaced your family. It's a horrible thing to even think about being replaced because you fell down and/or made a mistake. It's not right, and it never will be! Recently at my employer I felt down and I was kicked out the door. I was on the ground at a very low point in my life. I was told by union brothers and sisters to go talk to our union and I did. The union was stern with me, but true. They said, "we have rules to follow, but so does the company." It was discussed through three hearings. I traveled 2,400 miles round trip at my own cost. But that's nothing compared to the cost of what Local 79 paid out; they too had to travel - planes, hotels, cabs, food, but the biggest loss to the union business agents was that they had to go to these hearings and lose quality time with their family and friends. They fight on our behalf so we can continue on with our qualify of life with our family and friends. The companies we work for do not make these hearings cheap or easy for all involved; it is no vacation. The union stood up for me and we came out a winner. They did not give up on me. !NO! I have to do the right thing at work and I am not invincible, but I am not weak. I know there's my family at home and my union family at 5818 E. MLK Blvd., Tampa. To all of you here at this meeting today, please stand up and let's give all our agents and ourselves a hand and keep this going so someday someone can write about their grandfathers, and great grandfathers who helped them get ahead in a world that seems to be getting more labor unfriendly every day - as we get stronger every day!

Anonymous