Posted August 30, 2006

1. Tell us a little about your background. How did you choose your profession?

I was born in Mexico in 1962 and came to the United States with my family two years later. My father was a truck driver for Sunkist. When I was very young, I would spend summers going with him to pick up the oranges in a flatbed truck. My father was the inspiration for my decision to follow in his footsteps and become a truck driver.

My family now lives in Riverside, California – my wife, Alba, my daughters Jacqueline and Joanna and my son Joseph. Joseph is 13 years old and is already excited about the prospect of becoming a Teamster. He comes to all the meetings and is a great helper.

2. When did you first become involved with a union?

My first experience with a union was in 1979, when I joined Local 2707. I was a Teamster for three years before going to work for a local company, Rajay Industries. When the company moved its’ headquarters to Texas, I had family responsibilities in California and couldn’t move with them. To put food on the table, I had to take a job in a local warehouse. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t stay involved with the Teamsters – if I had, I would be retired by now.

3. What is prompting you to now form a union within your current company?

One of the biggest reasons is that I want to educate my co-workers and ensure they have rights on the job. For many of them, their mentality is to come to work and get the day over without worrying about what can happen to them. I tell them that they need to read their handbook and get educated on what the company can do to their jobs for no reason.

4. What is your definition of the American Dream? Have you achieved it? Are you concerned your children won’t be able to?

For me, the American Dream is buying a home, having a secure a job, and educating my children so they can have a bright future. I’m living the American Dream, but want to do everything I can to help my children live a better life. My eldest daughter is studying law right now and I’m hoping that someday she can use her law education to help unions.

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