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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Pat Harkins |
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Harkins addresses Pa. Conference of Teamsters
HARRISBURG, April 30 – State Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, this week addressed the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters' annual meeting to share his experience with attendees representing the union's 92,000 members throughout the state.
"Three years ago, I began a new career of public service that I pursued because of my experience as a Teamsters member driving a UPS truck for 24 years," said Harkins, a former member of Teamsters Local 397. "Much of Pennsylvania's rich history in the labor and manufacturing industries is owed to the city of Erie, and I am proud to represent the interests of hard-working labor employees."
Harkins recalled a teacher strike over health-care benefits during his senior year at Technical Memorial High School, where he studied electricity and electronics. Later, when teamsters went on strike in 1997 at UPS, Harkins brought his four-year-old twin sons to see the picket line, hoping to instill in them at a young age the importance of workers' rights.
Harkins talked about legislation (H.B. 400) he has co-sponsored that would penalize employers who misclassify their workers to avoid paying taxes and workers’ compensation premiums. The House is expected to vote on the bill next week. Harkins said employers who misclassify their workers as independent contractors evade responsibilities such as providing workers' compensation and paying taxes, unemployment insurance, overtime and other benefits.
"I will never lose my identity as a union worker and can identify personally with labor issues frequently discussed in Harrisburg," he said. "Worker classification, workers' compensation, production standards and product liability all are important components in keeping Pennsylvania's businesses running smoothly."
Other speakers at the conference included James Hoffa Jr., president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; U.S. Sens. Robert Casey and Arlen Specter; state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi; and House Speaker Keith McCall.
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CONTACT: Carolyn E. Myers
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ATTN EDITORS: – A print quality photo from the conference can be downloaded by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.