Ray Heiser began his career at Alpo, now Nestle-Purina Pet Care in June of 1969, He followed the footsteps of his mother, Marian Heiser who also worked at ALPO in the canning department for many years. He started out in the PEO, or Plant Emergency Organization which also served as the equivalent of a fire brigade.

Individuals in the fire brigade were also trained as EMTs and as the complexity of manufacturing increased, so did the potential for worksite accidents. In the early 1970s, Ray, Leroy Neff and some of their coworkers saw the need for on-site first aid training and thus a legacy began.

Ray has spent hundreds of hours teaching CPR at local pools and many children, now adults owe their lives to Ray for his professional training. Ray is still recognized by people in his community for having taught them CPR. Over Ray’s 43 year career, he has taught hundreds of his co-workers emergency training and consistently shares his high standards with his pupils, emphasizing the importance of a human life. On one occasion, Ray even saved his own life thanks to his training and strong instincts.

Ray has made a difference in his community and at Nestle-Purina Pet Care. There are many of his friends who now pay it forward and teach others thanks to Ray’s mentoring.

Ray has been a certified American Red Cross Instructor for many years and also teachers river safety as a guide. Ray has been a Teamster shop steward for much of his career and plays an important role with his fellow workers. He has earned the respect of his co­ workers and management alike.

Ray has volunteered for many years for the United Way campaign at his workplace and his efforts have been integral for the success ofthe many campaigns he has worked on.  Ray lives in Jim Thorpe with his partner Melissa. He has three children, sons, Ian and Ryan and a daughter Kristin.

Ian also works at Nestle-Purina, completing three generations ofHeisers who have worked here. He has three grandchildren, Alexander, Ethan and Leah and he continues to be extremely active in his community and his workplace. For these and many other reasons, we are honoring Ray “Biggy” Heiser with the William Werkheiser Community Service Award tonight.

To learn more about the William Werkheiser Community Service Award, please use the link below.

William Werkheiser Community Service Award

NEW LOCATION

Egypt VFW Post 7293
5209 Springmill Rd
Whitehall, PA 18052

Phone: (610) 262-1711

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On December 18, 2012, Teamster Local 773 presented seven scholarships to the children of our members.  The Scholarships totaled $3000, and the funds for the scholarship were raised from our Charity – Scholarship Golf Tournament held on August 7, 2011 at Wedgewood Golf Course in Coopersburg, PA.

Receiving Scholarships:

• Bryan Brensinger who is in his second year at Johns Hopkins University
• Donald Brensinger who is in his third year at East Stroudsburg University
• Darci Wolf who is in her second year at Kutztown State University
• Bradley Willis who is in his first year at Raritan Valley Community College
• Shawn Willis who is in his first year at Lincoln Technical Institute
• Natasha Seese who is in her fourth year at Penn State University
• Paige Morris who is in her fourth year at Temple University

Congratulations to all of our scholarship winners and their families.

We wish you much success in your academic futures.

Steve Gruber, Nestle Purina Shop Steward, with a seven pointer he shot on the first day of buck season 2011. It was shot at a (highly) secret location near Kempton, PA.  He was hunting with his father Clarence Gruber a 43 year Teamster (P.C.A)

Tom  Hawk, a retired UPS member, with a six point, 200 pound buck, shot in
Northampton County.

Anthony Gattullo, a NYC Port Authority Police officer, and his wife Susan at their Bethlehem backyard on Sept. 5, 2002. (Morning Call file photo)

September 12, 2011

For 10 years, I have been trying to forget about 9/11, but as an eyewitness, I could never do it.

I was a 14-year veteran of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police Department, stationed at Newark International Airport. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the air was cool and the sky was very blue. My partner and I were directing traffic in front of Terminal C when a flight attendant said a plane just struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

We told her to stop making bad jokes. Then our portable radios blasted a code 8-40 — return to the police station immediately. I learned that I was among the officers who were going to the WTC, and I had to get my firefighting equipment. (At the airport, we wore two hats — police officers, first, and crash, fire and rescue firefighters, second.)

This was my second WTC event. I was there in 1993 when terrorists detonated a large bomb under the Vista Hotel. I couldn’t believe my luck.

While riding in our van to Manhattan that Sept. 11, my wife, Susan, called my cellphone. When I told her we were crossing the New Jersey Turnpike-Newark Bay Extension bridge, she said, “Don’t go over there! Do you even know what is going on?” I told her it was a little late to back out and that I would be OK. I said I couldn’t talk anymore and said goodbye.

While stuck in traffic, the second doomed flight plowed into the WTC. Dispatchers on our radios said something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up: “All Port Authority units, we are under attack. Repeat. We are under attack!”

We made it to the WTC to help with what turned out to be the biggest rescue effort — eventually 25,000 people got out of the buildings — in this country’s history. I heard and felt a loud, crashing sound. An officer yelled, “RUN!” and pushed and carried me away from the plaza — and death. I looked back and saw the tower falling 300 yards behind me.

Read the entire article at The Morning Call

General President Hoffa Says Employees Need Information About Their Rights

(WASHINGTON) – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today applauded the National Labor Relations Board for requiring large employers to tell their workers of their basic fundamental legal right to join a union.

The new rule, which takes effect Nov. 14, requires large companies to post an 11” by 17” poster that notifies workers of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Employers must already inform workers about health, safety, wage and discrimination rights.

“This is a reasonable reform that gives workers clear guidelines about their basic rights under federal labor law,” Hoffa said. “Employers have only one reason to oppose this rule: they don’t want their workers to know about their legal protections and fundamental right to organize into union.”

The requirement doesn’t apply to small mom-and-pop businesses, and it excludes agricultural, railroad and airline employers. The notice must be posted in a second language if at least 20 percent of the employees speak a language other than English.

“These days, American workers are under ferocious attack as corporations cut jobs, cut pay and cut benefits to fatten their CEOs’ compensation,” Hoffa said. “Now more than ever, workers need to know they have the right to join together to improve their working conditions.”

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

Press Contact:

Galen Munroe
gmunroe@teamster.org
202-624-6911

Teamster Local 773 Annual Charity/Scholarship Golf Tournament

Date: Sunday, August 7, 2011
Time: 8:00AM (Shotgun Start)
Place: Wedgewood Golf Course, Coopersburg, PA (MAP IT)
Fee: $85.00 Per Person (RAIN OR SHINE)

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(WASHINGTON) – Teamsters overwhelmingly approved the first-ever national agreement with the largest private provider of school bus transportation in North America, First Student Inc. This historic agreement improves working conditions and job protections for more than 20,000 Teamsters who work at First Student. The contract was ratified by 91 percent.

“This national agreement is the result of the hard work and dedication of our Local Unions and Teamsters at First Student, and is a testament to the Union’s strong commitment to organizing workers who deserve fairness on the job,” said General President Jim Hoffa, Chairman of the Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC). “By banding together as Teamsters, these workers have secured better job protections and working conditions for themselves and their families.”

This four-year national agreement improves workplace protections, creates a national grievance procedure and provides strong language to raise standards for Teamster members at First Student.

“This groundbreaking contract represents a positive step forward for Teamsters at First Student and all workers in the school bus industry,” said Rick Middleton, TFSNNC Co-Chair and International Vice President. “The gains made in this agreement will immediately benefit First Student Teamsters and their families and ensure a cooperative working relationship with the company for years to come.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

Press Contact
Leigh Strope
lstrope@teamster.org
202-624-6911

They quickly organized a hoagie sale in hopes of raising funds for the Allentown Families Fund.

Nine hundred hoagies later, the proceeds totaled $2135 including direct donations from our members. The Teamsters Local 773 Women’s Committee thanks all of our members who made this fund raiser a huge success.