BLET honors President Hoffa at Austin regional meeting

https://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=13473

AUSTIN, Texas, July 14 - National President Dennis R. Pierce honored Jim Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with an engraved brass bell yesterday during opening ceremonies of the BLET's regional meeting in Austin, Texas.

President Pierce presented the bell on behalf of the 57,500 men and women of the BLET in recognition of General President Hoffa's pending retirement, which will become effective at the start of 2022. Hoffa has spent the past 23 years leading the world's most powerful labor union.

"Thank you, Brother Jim, for your leadership and congratulations on a remarkable career," President Pierce said. "On behalf of all BLET members, I want to also thank you for your vision of uniting all transportation workers in the strongest Union in America, which led directly to the creation of the Teamsters Rail Conference."

President Pierce began the day by calling the meeting to order with more than 315 members and families in attendance. After presentation of the flags by the Austin Fire Department Honor Guard, Brother Gary Pedigo, Chairman of the Texas State Legislative Board, delivered the invocation. Brother Pedigo has been a member of the BLET for over 42 years and also serves the Brotherhood as the Legislative Representative of BLET Division 177 (Denison, Texas).