It's the last day in Pennsylvania and we're both exhausted and excited. We were up early this morning to greet UPS drivers in Pittsburgh. A lot of guys from the local came out to join us. It's always great to see the locals turn out. They are the ones who have the real connection with the members.
For the average member, it's a treat to see their General President, but it is the day-to-day contact they have with their stewards and business agents that has a lasting effect.
Today, I'm doing a lot of waiting around while General President Hoffa visits a few editorial boards and conducts TV interviews.
So while I'm stuck in my room, I thought I'd mention to everyone that my post yesterday got hung up in the technical problems on DailyKos last night. I hope you can take a few minutes to give it a read and I'll be responding to comments there for as long as I can.
Later today we will be visiting another warehouse distributor, Giant Eagle and Genco, a logistics company. Our videographer is also working up a YouTube clip that I hope to post today. And I hope to provide a wrap up of the week's events. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, take a look at yesterday's post. We went to the Reading Peppermint Patty plant that is moving to Mexico and talked to the Teamsters who will be losing their jobs. See what they have to say about NAFTA.
UPDATE: CONVOY WRAP UP
What a whirlwind couple of days! I think we changed some minds and won some votes. I don't think we got 100% consensous, but we knew that going in.
I was talking to our director of Field Action and the Communications director on the way back. Both were very positive about the trip.
Christy Bailey heads up our Field Action Department and pretty much coordinated the whole event.
"We knew we were heading into rough country, but that's what we needed to do," she said. "You can't change minds if you only go places where they support your candidate."
A few of the work sites we visited were a little chilly at first. There were some Republicans and others on the fence about the Democrats.
Overall, I think statewide about 11% of eligible Dems are still undecided.
But having Jim Hoffa make a personal appeal, said Communications Director Bret Caldwell, could be enough to sway undecided Teamsters.
Bret was telling me just before I came up to write that in union polls our members tell us that they listen to their stewards first, and Jim Hoffa second. Maybe it's the name, maybe it's the history, who knows, but members in other unions do not show the same loyalty to their International presidents. Some unions are so big and distant many members couldn't name their International president.
And that is strongly supported by what the members this week were telling me.
Our second work site visit today was to a Giant Eagle warehouse distribution center that employs close to 400 Teamsters -- warehousemen, drivers and mechanics.
Ken Barringer is a steward at Giant Eagle. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Your typical Teamster. He said he is one of those undecided voters.
"I just wish the candidates would talk about the issues more," he said. "Whenever you turn on the TV anymore it's he said she said, disputing one claim or disputing some ad."
When I asked him if Hoffa coming to see him and his co-workers would make a difference, he said: "Oh yeah. As a whole, everyone is pretty excited about seeing him."
Warehouseman Gerald Reed was wearing an Obama T-shirt. So I asked him if he had a sense how his other co-workers were going to vote. He looked around, and said it was pretty evenly split with maybe 40% or so going for Barack. "There are a lot of Republicans here, too," he added.
As I handed out signs to the crowd to hold during the speech or to have autographed by Hoffa, I was greeted with a few crossed arms and shaking heads.
Then, Hoffa began his appeal. He talked about Obama's positions on trade, NAFTA, Employee Free Choice, striker job protection, the poor state of the economy, rising health care costs.
"I went to NewPenn the other day a brother told me he was fed up with politicians. That he wasn't going to vote and I told him, Brother, you gotta vote. Too many people here have given up on the system, but it's the only system we've got and it's worth fighting for. Don't give up.
"Look at us. We are the union of change. We say, if something is broken, we are going to fix it. An individual can't do it, but look around you. There are 400 Teamsters here. There are 83,000 Teamsters in Pennsylvania. If you add in SEIU, UNITE-HERE, the Laborers, there are close to a million of us. And a million people can make a difference. That's what the union is all about.
"You're not doing it for me. You're not doing it for Ron over there. You're not doing it for your local. You're doing it for you. For your job.
"We can make a change if we vote. And if we vote we can change Pittsburgh. If we change Pittsburgh we can change Pennsylvania. And if we change Pennsylvania, we can change America. It all comes down to April 22. We need your votes!"
As soon as he finished, Hoffa was rushed by Teamsters with cameras and signs, wanting snapshots and autographs.
Eric Freeman, a Teamster and employee at Giant Eagle for six years was admiring his autograph. "It was definitely a motivating speech."
Did he think Hoffa's being here made a difference?
"Probably. His presence and how he broke it down on how the election effects everything, our jobs, gas prices, the union, the economy, everything. It made a lot of sense," he said.
Reed agreed. "I think the aura of his being here alone might have changed some minds."
I'm not going to spin you. You can't expect every Teamster to vote in lockstep with the union. Most of our members are Democrats, but we also have about 30% Republicans and a large number who identify themselves as independents.
We never expected to change every mind. And I can't say that our efforts here will win the election.
But I'll put money on the fact that we did convince some voters. And that's what it was all about.
"I think we motivated the local leaders," Bailey said. "That's important. They'll keep the energy up and keep the momentum going."
She said we may be back in a couple of weeks for a GOTV drive. Those are a lot more fun, she said, because that's when you can go out and "REALLY get people pumped up."
"This week was a sales job, and in some places it's a tough sell," Bailey said. "But I think we gained some Teamster votes. For some people, all they need is a reason and Jim definitely gave them some big reasons."