Union head elected area vice president

NOTE: The following copy has been corrected. The DP printed presidential hopeful Bob Kerry's name as Tom Kerry. John Morris wants you. The newly-elected Eastern Conference Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said he sees not only a "need to bring young people [into the labor movement]," but also thinks "the best chance [labor officials] have is at the Ivy League schools." Morris, who was elected to his new position last month through the union's first rank and file election, has a constituency that stretches from Maine to South Carolina. He took over the post earlier this week. The 45-year Teamster veteran is also secretary-treasurer and business manager of Local 115, the union which represents the housekeepers at the University. In his new and broader position, Morris is one of 19 representatives of North American Teamsters. He is in charge of overseeing the eastern conference, according to a Local 115 official, yet Morris said his new responsibilities are "not much different than [they are] now." As a member of the executive policy board for the union, however, Morris is granted more authority under the Teamsters' constitution. Besides his plan to attract students to the labor movement, Morris hopes to change the union's political position. "[It's time to] pull away from supporting Republican candidates," he said. "They were on the wrong side. George Bush is doing such a lousy job that people are sneaking back into Mexico. He is not what I call a good president." Although he said he thinks "we can't go on with all the [current] taxation problems," currently Morris is not impressed with Democratic candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Kerrey. "The worst thing for the working class [would be] to get another Jimmy Carter," Morris said. "Right now it doesn't look good." Morris said he hopes to organize schools within each local union across the country to train students on "how to conduct an effective strike." Joint Council 53, which encompasses southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is the only one which currently operates such a school. As Morris begins his five year term, he said he wants "to change the government of the rich by the rich and for the rich." Morris' other union positions include Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters president and Joint Council 53 president. (CUT LINE) Please see UNION, page 2 UNION, from page 1