LABOR BEAT: Commemoration of the life and work of Pete Camarata in new Labor Beat video
Pete Camarata. Labor Beat photo courtesy of Robin Potter.As someone pointed out at the March 23, 2014 Celebration and Memorial Services for Pete Camarata at Teamster City in Chicago, Pete was the only truck driver who ever got a 900-word obituary in the New York Times. He died on Feb. 9, 2014 (was born in 1946), and a lot has been said about the history surrounding his struggles to reform the Teamsters. And more remains to be said. Like the late Jerry Tucker in the UAW, Camarata both helped lead a democracy movement in his union and then give it a face.
The memorial provided a long list of speakers, of which this 26-minute video provides just a short selection and excerpts.
Pete's family at the March 24 event. Listening at the commemoration: (L-R) Kathy (Camarata) Matthys, Pete's Sister;
Robin Potter, Pete's Wife; Jackson Potter (Pete's Stepson). Photo: David Vance/Labor BeatBill Roberts of the International Socialist Organization: "Pete was motivated by justice, I think that was the soul of Pete. Fame and position wasn't something he was interested in. That's why some of us referred to him as 'no retreat Pete'."
Bill Hackett, an Attorney and friend: "They had members who kept their jobs by doing the bidding of the B.A.'s and the administration of the Teamsters Union...they intimidated T.D.U. (Teamsters for a Democratic Union) members at meetings...Even when he had people who were out to get him--and there were people who were out to get him--he went to hawk Convoy Dispatch (TDU newspaper) all the time. When he ran for office in the Teamsters Union, he didn't care that there were people out to get him. He was a brave man, he was an honest man. He gave his word. It was good as gold."
The crowd at Teamster City for the memorial event. Labor Beat photo. Probably the event's most quotable comment was made by Richard De Vries (IBT Local 705): "Pete Camarata was the most successful outsider in the Teamsters union."
Supplemented by archival video footage and photos, the commemoration edit is followed by a video of excerpts from an interview of Pete, done by Labor Beat in 1998, discussing the circumstances leading up to and following the Ron Carey administration in the IBT, a pivotal time in the recent history of Teamsters reform. Can also be viewed on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/awFC98Z_DC4
