Biography/History

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America (IBT) dates its existence from October 1, 1903. On that date, a convention met to ratify the amalgamation of the Team Drivers International Union, the Teamsters' National Union of America, and other rival groups. They assumed the name International Brotherhood of Teamsters, elected Cornelius P. Shea the first president, and established headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though amalgamation officially ended the factionalism that had weakened the earlier organizations, in reality conflicts continued. In 1906, the convention split and 35 delegates joined to form a rival organization. Conditions deteriorated and in 1907 Daniel J. Tobin was elected over Shea by a majority of only twelve votes from almost 200 delegates.

Dissension continued, especially in Chicago, New York, New Jersey, and St. Louis. (See Series IV, Chicago Teamsters, New York Teamsters, and United Teamsters of America.) Mere existence of the IBT remained questionable. Membership loyalty had not yet been cemented by tradition; money was short and consequently trouble-shooting organizers were few and overworked. Problems included threats by Philadelphia locals to leave the organization unless they immediately received an organizer's attention; solutions included removing from office vice-presidents Joseph Forkey and John J. Jennings because while on the payroll as organizers in New York they had been working instead to set up rival teamster organizations.

Even when existence had been assured, the scope of the organization's influence was nebulous and fluctuating. During these and later years, jurisdictional disputes with several other international unions began. The Bakery and Confectionery Workers, the Retail Clerks, the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers, the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, the Laundry Workers, the Glass Bottle Blowers, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the International Union of United Brewery Workers all experienced jurisdictional conflicts with the IBT. Such disputes were usually accompanied by attempts at reconciliation and compromise under the auspices of the American Federation of Labor.

These jurisdictional struggles can be related to the struggle between craft unionism and industrial unionism and the problem as to just where to place the line dividing the two. While the Teamsters claimed to be a craft union, where conditions made expansion necessary for the protection of their drivers, they felt compelled to take in men in related work, particularly in later years. As Tobin wrote to an IBT general organizer (in Staff Correspondence, William J. Conboy, October 12, 1948):

The fight against the International Union is very serious by the other organizations of labor because we are slowly stepping out of our original jurisdiction and going into fields that we had never intended to go into in the early days and we are criticized and misunderstood.... It has been openly stated that our union is becoming almost one hundred percent an industrial union and then they throw in my face that I opposed the CIO because it was an industrial union, but since the establishment of the CIO conditions have changed, making it necessary for us to change. Any organization that stands still will soon fade out.

The Teamsters did not fade out, in spite of jurisdictional problems. Their membership gradually increased and by 1940 had reached 500,000, making the IBT the largest union in the AFL. By 1952, the Teamsters claimed 1,250,000 members. This large membership also made them one of the richest unions. Their locals numbered over 900 and were located from Alaska to the Canal Zone and from Maine to Hawaii. Locals were independent in their activities with the International requiring only the approval of contracts and by-laws and of strikes if strike benefits were to be paid, and adherence to the International constitution.

During these years of growth, the IBT's structure experienced several changes. Local unions remained the basic unit of organization but other bodies began to be chartered too. Whenever three or more locals existed in close proximity, they were encouraged to band together in a joint council. This council served as an arbiter of disputes and promoted cooperation in bargaining and other activities. Local unions also cooperated in state conferences and in area conferences (Central, Western, New England, etc.). In addition, trade divisions encompassing all locals engaged in a certain type of activity were organized on both a regional and national basis; the IBT was a pioneer of this kind of organization.

With all these structural changes, the governing offices of the union remained generally the same. Daniel J. Tobin served as General President for 45 years, 1907-1952. The office of Secretary-Treasurer was occupied by Thomas L. Hughes, 1905-1941; John M. Gillespie, 1941-1946; and John F. English, 1946-1969. The holders of these two offices plus the vice-presidents (varying in number from five in 1902 to eleven by January, 1953) formed the Executive Council. This body met periodically during the year and was consulted by letter and telegram. The General President was accountable to the Executive Council, and the Council, to the Convention which met at varying intervals. Three trustees were responsible for an annual audit of the books. The General President also served as editor of The International Teamster, the magazine mailed monthly to the membership. As the union grew, however, it did become necessary to delegate some duties. For example, in 1941, Tobin put western general organizers under the immediate supervision of Dave Beck, explaining that he could not keep up with the growing demands on his time and so must adopt this new system. (See Series I - Staff Correspondence, Joseph M. Casey, December 1, 1941.) A Washington office was established to oversee business with the government. In 1952, the IBT erected a new building and moved their headquarters from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C.

As IBT General President, Daniel Tobin was a figure of great influence in the American labor movement. (See the chronology of Tobin below.) He served as AFL Treasurer, 1917-1928, and as an AFL Vice-President, 1933-1955. He was active in Democratic Party national politics, served as delegate to several Presidential conferences and missions, and was an unofficial candidate for appointment both as Secretary of Labor and as Senator from Indiana. Within the IBT, he was a conscientious and well-liked leader with a salty personality. He was adamant in stating from the beginning of his tenure in office that the Teamsters would honor every contract they signed. He was also an out-spoken anti-Communist and led the IBT convention of 1935 in adopting one of the first labor resolutions outlawing Communists from membership. In 1952, Daniel Tobin announced that he would retire from the General Presidency after the convention of that year. When delegates met in Los Angeles, they unanimously elected Dave Beck to the office and Tobin assumed the title President Emeritus.

Chronology of the Life of Daniel J. Tobin

1873, April 3	Is born in County Clare, Ireland.
1889	Comes to United States with his brother and settles in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Attends night school and works at odd jobs until becoming a teamster.
1896?	Joins the Team Drivers' Union. Becomes business agent of Local 25, Boston.
1907, August	Is elected President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at Fifth Convention, held in Boston.
1909, January	Beaten and left for dead by New York City union opponents.
1911, Aug. 31 - Oct. 5	Attends British Trades Union Congress in London and visits Ireland.
1917, October	Is elected Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor over Samuel Gompers' opposition. Becomes member of AFL Executive Council.
1919, July - August	Delegate to Federation of Trade Unions.
1919, October	Member of President Wilson's Industrial Conference meeting in Amsterdam. Also visits Ireland, France, and England.
1920, July 1	Wife, Annie E. Reagan, dies leaving six children, John M., Francis L., Frederick, Edmund P., Joseph, and Catherine.
1921, January	Representative to the Third Pan-American Labor Convention in Mexico City.
1921, August	Submits his resignation from AFL Executive Council and office of Treasurer. However, it is refused in August and again in November and he remains on the Council.
1921, October	Attends President Harding's Unemployment Conference.
1922, October?	Marries Irene Halloran.
1926, March 11 - June 15	With his wife takes European vacation presented by the IBT.
1928, August	Resigns as AFL Treasurer after the Executive Council refuses to endorse Alfred E. Smith for President. Resignation is accepted October 25.
1932, August	Is sent by President Roosevelt to England to investigate labor conditions there and report to the American people.
1932, October 1	Is honored at 25th anniversary banquet and meeting in Toronto.
1932	Serves as chairman of the Labor Bureau of the Democratic National Campaign Committee.
1933, January	Is candidate for post of Secretary of Labor until Frances Perkins is named.
1933, June	Declines appointment as Regional Federal Administrator.
1933	Becomes a vice-president of the AFL and the AFL Building Trades Department.
1936	Again labor chairman of the Democratic National Campaign Committee.
1938, July	AFL delegate to British Trades Union Congress.
1939, June 1 - July 10	In Europe as delegate to International Labor Office over-the-road trucking conference in Geneva.
1940, July - September	Serves as an administrative assistant to FDR with duties aimed at resolving AFL-CIO conflicts. Resigns to work in political campaign.
1940	Labor chairman of Democratic National Campaign Committee.
1942, August	Again is AFL delegate to the British Trades Union Congress.
1942	Member of committee seeking re-unification of AFL and CIO.
1943	Active in negotiations to bring the United Mine Workers back into the AFL.
1943	Rejects an offer of Secretary of Labor post, says Thomas E. Flynn.
1944	Democratic National Campaign Committee labor chairman for fourth time.
1945, November	Delegate to President's National Labor-Management Conference.
1948, June	Again rejects Secretary of Labor post, according to Flynn.
1950	Again serves on committee seeking AFL-CIO re-unification.
1952, October	Declines to run again for IBT presidency and is named General President Emeritus. He remains on the AFL Executive Council.
1955, November 14	Dies in Indianapolis at age 82 and is buried in Cambridge.