Carroll “Carl” E. Haynes, who served the Teamsters as an International Vice President, Director of the Public Services Division, and as the President of Local 237 in New York City, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack. He was 76.

Haynes had retired from his role as International Vice President and Public Services Director on Dec. 31, 2009. He served as the President of Local 237, the largest Teamsters local in the country, made up solely of public service employees, from 1993 to 2007.

“On behalf of the Teamsters, I express my deepest condolences to Carl’s wife Janice, his two children and other family members,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “Under Carl’s leadership, the Public Services Division grew tremendously and we are grateful for his dedicated service to our union.”

Haynes was born and raised in Hinton, W. Va. He moved to New York City to work for the New York City Housing Authority and joined Local 237 in 1960. He served in many leadership positions for the local.

Haynes is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janice, his daughter Liane Haynes Smith, his son Jay Christopher Haynes, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements are pending.

(Jeffersonville, IN) – More than 600 men and women represented by Teamsters Local 89 in Louisville, Ky. were forced to strike Jeffboat in Jeffersonville, Ind. on April 2, after company representatives demanded the workers agree to massive cuts in their health benefits during contract negotiations.

The union’s negotiating team agreed to early bargaining in 2009 after the company pledged to not make any concessionary demands. However, the negotiations broke off after Jeffboat broke that pledge by proposing unreasonable cuts in wages, health care and benefits.

“We entered into early negotiations last year with the hope that the company would bargain in good faith,” said Jeff Cooper, Teamsters Local 89 business agent. “Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that Jeffboat’s representatives were looking for unreasonable concessions from our members.”

The company and the union returned to negotiations in March 2010, but were unable to reach a resolution after the company continued to demand the workers accept cuts to their health care plan.

The workers have expressed their frustration with the company’s stance, as the jobs they perform are physically demanding, making the need of affordable health care a necessity – not a luxury. Management at Jeffboat has argued that the proposed health plan is the same plan they are on. However, managers at Jeffboat certainly don’t do the same job as the 600 members of Local 89.

“Our members at Jeffboat are welders and fabricators, crane operators and painters,” said Fred Zuckerman, President of Local 89. “They don’t sit behind a desk where the worst injury you could suffer is a paper cut. Over time, these physical occupations take a toll on your body, and having good, affordable health care is critical.”

“This plan they have proposed means more money out of my pocket for a lower level of benefits,” said John R. Knowles, a propeller mechanic/outside machinist that has been at Jeffboat for four-and-a-half years. “My family already struggles to make end meet every month. This health plan would make it even harder.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – General President James P. Hoffa extended his deepest condolences today on behalf of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to the families and friends of the coal miners killed or injured in the explosion yesterday at Massey Energy Co.’s Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia.

“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims in this horrible tragedy,” Hoffa said. “On behalf of 1.4 million Teamsters, we mourn their loss and express our deepest condolences.”

The explosion is the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in 26 years. While details are still emerging, it is clear that the safety conditions at the Upper Big Branch mine were deplorable. Federal records revealed that the mine operator, Performance Coal Co., a subsidiary of Massey Energy Co., was cited for 57 safety violations in March alone.

“These violations paint a frightening picture of corporate indifference to the safety of the miners,” Hoffa said. “This is a direct result of the erosion of mine safety regulations under the previous administration that allowed companies to prioritize profits over worker safety. We must redouble our efforts to strengthen worker safety and enforcement.”

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, at President Obama’s direction, has taken the first crucial steps to hire hundreds of new inspectors and enforcers. The Senate has confirmed Joe Main as an Assistant Secretary to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Main was the former administrator of the United Mine Workers of America’s Health and Safety Department.

“These tragedies have become all too common in West Virginia, and we must do everything possible to prevent another single death in a mine,” said Ken Hall, Teamsters International Vice President and President of Teamsters Local 175 in South Charleston, W.Va. “My entire state grieves with the families of these victims, and we thank the brave rescue teams for their efforts.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa has named David Laughton, the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 633 in Manchester, N.H., to lead the Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference.

Laughton replaces Jack Cipriani, who has retired, as the conference’s Director.

“David Laughton has been a strong leader in the Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference for many years as its Secretary-Treasurer,” Hoffa said. “Laughton’s ability to negotiate contracts with Anheuser-Busch/InBev, Miller/Coors, Pepsi and Coca-Cola that preserve jobs and increase benefits will be a great asset to our members.”

“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as the director of this great conference and I appreciate the confidence Jim Hoffa and the General Executive Board have in appointing me,” Laughton said.  “It has been a truly great experience to serve with Jack for many years and that experience will serve me well.”

Laughton has been a Teamster for 39 years, beginning his career as a union truck driver at Coca-Cola in his native New Hampshire. Laughton has served in various capacities at Local 633 as a Business Agent and Secretary-Treasurer, a position he still holds today. From 1989 to 1999, Laughton was Director of the conference. For the past 11 years, he has served as Assistant Director. Laughton also has served on the IBT Health and Pension Benefits Committee since 1989. In 2003, Laughton was elected Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Joint Council 10 in Manchester.