Updated with visits to Allentown
Updated with photos
The day started early, with the wheels rolling at 6:30 a.m. to Ocean Logistics, a warehouse distribution company that supplies health and beauty products to A&P stores up and down the East Coast.
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa began campaigning with his first handshake with Local 229 principal officer Bob Webber. "This is all about Obama. He's talking about striker replacement, you know, things we were talking about ten years ago; things we've forgotten about; EFCA, this is important."
Use this Google Map to track the convoy, and watch for more updates throughout the day.
Two Teamster semis, advanced the visiting Teamsters, who rolled in with two more semis and a string of trail cars. We were greeted by a couple of stewards who turned into our guides through the plant -- handing out Teamsters for Obama stickers to members who picked products from boxes and placed them in plastic crates. The crates move on conveyors throughout the warehouse in a constant train of motion.
Hoffa's message is consistent. "We're here to keep jobs in Pennsylvania."
Occaisionally, we run into a worker who's not interested in the election. "You're interested in your job aren't you? You're interested in your union, aren't you?" Heads nod.
Fliers are handed out, supporting Obama. The Teamsters endorsed the Illinois senator in February.
"I think he's the right man," says Pam Seliga, shop steward and a 22-year employee at Ocean Logistics. "He's for working people and that's the guy for me."
Among the first groups of workers we stop to chat with is Grace Fadarishan, 81. She's been working at Ocean for 31 years and a Teamster since 1976.
Her top issues are the economy and the war. "My son is an engineer and he has to work in a machine shop because he can't get a decent job. They brought in a bunch Indians that they had to train, and then showed them the door. This is America? It isn't right."
The small white-haired woman focuses her gaze as Hoffa speaks: "We lost 1,100 jobs here in Scranton when the Tops Bubble Gum company closed down. We need to keep those jobs here. Now they're closing the York Peppermint Pattie plant, that's more Teamster jobs that are going to Mexico.
"I've talked to Obama. He's for Employee Free Choice Act, he's for re-opening NAFTA. We need change. And we need your support," Hoffa told the members.
From one bay to the next, shipping, packing, we meet with groups of three, four, six workers at a time. Asking for support. The workers listen and agree.
The next stop was to a UPS facility across town where Hoffa and the Teamster convoy greeted drivers as they made their way in to start their day.
"This is great," said driver Rodney Collins. "I thought we were in a forgotten area up here. But seeing (Hoffa) here, it feels like we are an important part of the Teamsters.
When asked if this will have an impact on his vote, he said: "Without a doubt. With him being here, being a part of us I think it's great. It's not like sending a letter, anybody can send a letter. This shows we matter."
So what's the important issue: "Keeping jobs in America... These politicians need to open their eyes and see what's going on. People are hurting out here."
Many of the other comments from workers at Ocean Logistics and UPS were similar. I don't have time to write them all up, in fact we are getting ready to roll on to our next stop.
These are real Americans, not campaign speeches. They bend their backs every day to keep our shelves stocked and our products arriving on time. And they all share the same concerns. It's the economy. It's job security. Will my job, my neighbor's job be here tomorrow.
And these are the notes that Hoffa is hitting on every stop, asking for their support and for their votes.
Photo's from morning work site visits:
Ocean Logistics
Hoffa meets with UPS drivers in Scranton
Convoy Rolls through Allentown
The sun rose (almost) and set at UPS today. Our last stop of the day was in Allentown where Hoffa shook hands with drivers as they left for the night.
Just like at other stops today, the Teamsters were surprised to see their General President waiting to shake their hand. Most saw the trucks and the signs and figured something was up, especially with the primary a few weeks away.
Many of the drivers said they supported Obama. A few breezed by in a hurry to get home or pick up kids or elsewhere. But a few admitted they were still on the fence.
But Hoffa's convoy may have moved them a little.
Greg Boksan, an 18-year driver for UPS said he was still making up his mind. He considers himself an independent who weighs each candidate on his or her own merits. But seeing Hoffa today, Boksan said, "that has a lot of pull. I'm not a big Hillary fan to begin with.
"This has a whole lot more weight," Boksan said. "When the guy (Hoffa) shows up and can take a few minutes to shake your hand and talk to you, that means a lot."
Jeff Hull, is another driver who's still making up his mind. "To be quite honest, I'm not real happy with any of them.
"I'm leaning toward Obama. McCain looks like he's going to die tomorrow and Hillary ... well we need change," Hull said.
Before hitting the UPS yard, we visited a Shop Rite warehouse. The 1.5 million square-foot facility serves 125 grocery stores in the area. We met the second shift in the cafeteria at their break. The warehouse workers are nearly 90 percent Hispanic, so chief steward Bill Pagan interpreted Hoffa's remarks.
The message was still about keeping jobs in the area and Obama's pro-labor positions.
On the way out, a worker asked Hoffa where he could register to vote.
I asked Bill how long these workers have lived in the U.S. The young man asking the question, he said, was a U.S. citizen. "But many just don't know. This company screens every worker, so everyone is a legal resident. They also do a good job of educating them, if they need help. But that's why this is so important."
Well, we're pulling into Reading -- the last stop of the night. More tomorrow.