Driving - Teamsters Local 25

StewardsSpotlightBrian MacLeodSteward, Shaughnessy &Ahearn RiggingBrian arrived at Shaughnessy &Ahearn Rigging in South Bostonin August 1993. He came toShaughnessy after workingfor four years at Glancy Riggingin Avon, Massachusetts.Brian was elected Steward in April 2003. He leads acrew of 20 Teamsters. He has earned his CDL A licenseand received his doubles and triples endorsements. He hasalso secured his OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour constructionsafety cards.“I worked side by side with newly elected PresidentSean M. O’Brien for seven years. We were laid off togethertrying to hustle a day’s work to support our families. Ihave a deep respect for him and I am excited to see himascend to the principal officer’s position in Local 25. Hewill be a great leader,” MacLeod said.On a daily basis Brian and his crew move variousoversized items into hospitals, colleges and businesses,such as air conditioning units, boilers, transformers,turbines and large bank safes.“One time we were hired to lower some 40-foot-highFlorida mango trees into Genzyme in Cambridge. The treeswere not supposed to be exposed to severe cold. One winternight somebody left a number of windows open and thetrees died. We had to remove the old trees and replace themwith new ones. It was quite a feat,” MacLeod said.Jerry WrightSteward, DHL inSouth BostonJerry Wright started workingat DHL in South Boston inApril 1999 when it was calledAirborne Express.Jerry was elected stewardin May 2006.“I was told by my business agent that I should not runfor steward and that if I won, I would never get anythingdone. I ran because there was no presence from the Local25 leadership at our facility. Since Sean O’Brien took overas President of our local union we started to get therespect we deserve,” Wright said.As steward, Wright advocates on behalf of 108 coworkers.“When I took over as steward I had to address all sortsof seniority issues where members were being bypassed inthe bidding process for various routes. Also, I found thatsupervisors were running amuck all over the facilitytouching our work,” he said. “With the new administration,many of the disgruntled members started to attendthe monthly general membership meetings again.”Jerry’s two brothers, Robbie and Kevin, are also membersof Local 25. They both work in the Motion PictureDivision. Jerry lives in South Boston with his wife and son.Joe PelusoSteward, AtlasGlen-mor OilJoe Peluso is a 23-year Teamsterand steward at Atlas Glen-morOil Company in Chelsea,Massachusetts. Peluso represents60 service technicians andcoordinates all training andwork schedules for all of the technicians. Joe holdsMassachusetts licenses as an oil burner tech and airconditioning tech.“I am excited about the new leadership at Local 25. Weare finally getting respect again on the street,” Peluso said.“There is a new energy level now, our local union is ingood hands with President Sean M. O’Brien.”Peluso lives in Peabody, Massachusetts with his wifeLaurie and three kids.Maria BussellSteward, City of Everett,MassachusettsMaria Bussell is the chiefsteward of the 35-memberclerical unit in the City ofEverett, Massachusetts.She has been working for thecity since 1996. In her positionas department clerk to the fire chief, she coordinates all24 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com