Hoffa, third from left, stands with newly sworn in board members. They are, from left, Edmund Kane, trustee; Ruben Torres, secretarytreasurer, President Gregory Floyd; Richard Hendershot, vice president, Jeanette Taveras and Curtis Scott, trustees; and Patricia Stryker, recording secretary.

Guests, including many elected officials, filled Local 237’s union hall on Jan. 17 for the Installation Ceremony that kicked off the next five-year term for President Gregory Floyd and six executive board members. James P. Hoffa, general president, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, officiated, and George Miranda, vice president at-large, IBT, and president, Joint Council 16, served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Robert Royal of St. Paul Baptist Church delivered the invocation.

Welcoming the guests, Miranda highlighted Floyd’s recent accomplishments, including the successful settlement with the city that ended pay discrimination for school safety agents, and emphasized, “That is the leadership Greg Floyd is known for.”

Floyd thanked the guests for attending, and noted that this swearing- in ceremony was important in many ways, including affirmation that the union’s leadership is in place for the next five years with a “strong mandate.” He promised to continue fighting to protect members’ jobs, pensions, health benefits, maintain retiree benefits, and halt the move to privatize the New York City Housing Authority. “The effectiveness of a union lies with strong leadership and a membership that’s informed and involved,” said Floyd. “I am proud to say we have both.”

Executive Board members are sworn in by James P. Hoffa, general president, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Hoffa is flanked, from left, by President Gregory Floyd and George Miranda, vice president at-large, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and president of Joint Council 16.

 Prior to swearing in the executive winning the election and settling the wage bias lawsuit. “Everyone has to know about it,” he said. “You brought the thing home. Great Job!” Hoffa also held up a copy of the December Teamster Magazine, featuring a frontpage story on the victory. [See “SSAs Grace Teamster Magazine Cover,” page 3.]

Hoffa administered the oath of office to Floyd and the executive board members: Richard Hendershot, vice president; Ruben Torres, secretarytreasurer; Patricia Stryker, recording secretary; Edmund Kane, trustee; Curtis Scott, trustee; and the new trustee, Jeanette Taveras. [See “Taveras Promoted to Trustee,” page 3.]

Hands held up, board members promised “Uponmy honor, that I will truly and faithfully, to the best of my ability, perform the duties of my office, for the ensuing term, as prescribed in the Constitution and Bylaws of this union.” In addition, they promised to “promote harmony and preserve the dignity of its sessions.”

Among the special guests were Sgt. First Class Luis Laluz, a Legion of Merit recipient and officer of the Taxi & Limousine Commission, who recited the pledge of allegiance. Laluz has served in the U.S. Army for over 40 years and has participated in three major campaigns. In 2008, he was deployed to Iraq where he spent 15 months. Most recently he served with the 305th Engineer Detachment at Fort Wadsworth, N.Y.

Elected officials attending included U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Gregory Meeks, State Senator Andrea Stewart- Cousins, Assemblyman Keith Wright, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James, Councilman Daneek Miller, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz. Also in attendance were Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, and Vincent Alvarez, president of the New York City Central Labor Council.

Addressing the guests, Sen. Schumer said that income inequality was the biggest issue facing American workers, and emphasized that “Only the union movement can bring back the middle class.” He praised labor movement leaders, such as Floyd, who led the fight against privatizing the city’s hospital police and the New York City Housing Authority. Schumer was instrumental in attaining federal funding for NYCHA and is a long-term ally in the continuing fight to save public housing.

“This union represents a labor force that makes life better for each resident of this city,” said Council Speaker Mark-Viverito. “You reflect what we aspire to.”

Seated in the front row of the audience are, from left, Letitia James, public advocate, Natasha Torres, and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.

Vincent Alvarez, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, speaks with Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Council speaker.

Members of the Executive Board listen to speaker James P. Hoffa, right, general president, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who displays the December issue of Teamster Magazine.