Teamsters Name Port Division Director

New Jersey Teamsters officer Fred Potter has been named director of the union's port division, which has been attempting to organize harbor truck drivers at U.S. seaports.

Potter replaces Chuck Mack who was named chairman of the Western Conference Teamster Pension Trust. Mack will take over the trust following the death of Tony Lock.

The Teamsters port division the past several years has been involved in organizing campaigns in port cities across the country, including the highly-publicized effort that has been part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach clean-trucks programs.

The Teamsters charge that harbor truck drivers are misclassified as independent contractors and should be treated as trucking company employees with better wages and benefits.

"Misclassified independent contractors at our nation's ports are the most exploited truck drivers, and they need protections that only a strong Teamster contract can provide," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

Potter has served most recently as the union's at-large vice president. He is also president of Local 469 in Hazlet, N.J., a position he will continue to hold.

He announced that his first initiative as ports division director will be to launch a Web site providing real-time information and data on the U.S. drayage industry. The website is intended to be a resource for companies involved in the global supply chain.

Potter in the coming weeks will visit port cities nationwide and meet with drivers, community organizations, political leaders and industry executives.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com.