"I was there when we brought the Union in. The first-time contract they won for us was unbelievable. It changed the quality of my life. I am now a Shop Steward and enjoy working with my Union and looking after my fellow workers. "
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
1958 telegram from Jimmy Hoffa discovered James R. "Jimmy" Hoffa, who would turn 100 on Feb. 14, was a hardworking, hands-on leader who would pick up the phone and intervene personally on behalf of someone who had a problem.
A just-discovered telegram from 1958 shows just how far Hoffa would go to help someone. Hoffa sent a Western Union telegram in effort to find a 7-year-old New Jersey boy who ran away from home.
Here's what it said:
TO ALL LOCAL UNIONS: PLEASE NOTIFY ALL DRIVERS, PARTICULARLY ON ROAD; TO BE ON LOOKOUT FOR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ATTEMPTING TO RIDE BICYCLE FROM NEW JERSEY TO TACOMA, WASH. LAST SEEN WEEK AGO ON ROUTE 46 NEAR CALDWELL TOWNSHIP,N.J.RIDING BLUE BICYCLE AND WEARING LIGHT BLUE AND GRAY FLANNEL SHIRT, BLACK JEANS, BLACK SHOES. NAME PAUL GROCHWICZ. MAY NOW BE HITCHHIKING. IF SEEN NOTIFY POMPTON LAKES POLICE, POMPTON LAKES, N.J. JAMES R. HOFFA GENERAL PRESIDENT INTERNATIONALBROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
The telegram was purchased by a member of the Teamsters Union who collects Teamsters memorabilia. It was part of a book of papers relating to the Teamsters sold as part of an estate.
It isn't know whether the boy ever returned home.