Former Local 804 President and Teamsters General President Ron Carey was laid to rest on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 after a funeral service at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
Ron’s sons remembered their father as a fighter who went out strong.
Near the end of the service, Ron’s ten year-old grandson, Danny, rose to speak. Danny […]
Our brother, leader and friend Ron Carey passed away on Thursday night at the age of 72. The man who built Local 804 into the most powerful local in the country and who transformed our International Union and the labor movement is no more. But his legacy lives on.
Ron is survived by his wife of […]
Ron Carey was remembered by the major media today as a legendary labor leader who fought union corruption, challenged corporate America, and mobilized Teamster members to reform our union.
Click here to read the Washington Post article: Ron Carey: Reformer Who Led Teamsters, Fought Corruption.
Click here to read the New York Times article: Ron Carey Who Led […]
Tim Sylvester, Shop Steward, Long Island City
Ron Carey was taken too early, not just with his death, but he was taken from us ten years ago by a system that didn’t allow anyone as good as he was to remain in power in our union.
He knew that it was time to change the way unions […]
Pat Pagnanella, Secretary-Treasurer Local 804 (retired)
Union workers have lost one of the greatest leaders in the labor movement. It was an honor and a pleasure to work alongside Ron Carey as his Secretary-Treasurer and as a very close friend for many years.
Ron was a very honorable man who accomplished many improvements as well as the […]
Tom Leedham, Secretary-Treasurer, Local 206
Under Ron Carey, Local 804 was one of the most powerful Teamster locals in the country. Teamsters across the country looked up to Local 804 as an example of what our union could be: militant with employers, uncompromising on corruption, committed to putting members first.
As our General President, Ron put […]
Jim Reynolds, Alternate Shop Steward, Elmsford
RON CAREY TEAMSTER. I have been honored in the most profound way by simply being this man’s friend. You see I remember Ron not as Mr. President, but just as Ronnie. I know he would have wanted us all to know that this Union and all of the labor movement […]
Kenneth C. Crowe, Newsday Reporter
On the day Ron Carey was elected president of the Teamsters in 1991, I rode with him in a cab interviewing him all the way from downtown Washington to the airport. After we were dropped off, we realized we were in the wrong terminal. Carey picked up his two heavy bags–refusing […]
Pete Mastrandrea, Nassau Feeder Department
Ron Carey, although you are gone from this earth you will never be forgotten, this I promise you. Your contribution to the labor movement can only be described as greatness. Never was there, and never will there be, a leader equal to you. I am extremely proud to have had the […]
Liam Russertt, Shop Steward, Long Island City
I remember the first time I heard Ron Carey speak to the rank and file at a general membership meeting. I was there with my father, who retired from UPS. Ron spoke with such conviction and power that your soul would rise from your belly and force a cheer […]
William R. Riley Fernandez, 43rd Street
A human being like Ron Carey is hard to come by. He had the valor to take on UPS greed and Union corruption. He was the heart, the engine that inspired the Rank & File who admired him so much. Our Local 804 lost its moral compass once Ron was […]
Ken Reiman, Nassau (”Local 804 Agitator”)
Working Class Hero
Ron Carey (Ronnie) was a working-class guy who never forgot the working-class he was born into. He was a great union leader who never kept a distance from the Rank-and-File; he was of the Rank-and-File. He took on the corrupt Teamster leadership by speaking for the “Forgotten Teamster.”
By […]
Ken Spillane, Local 804 Vice President (Retired)
I joined local 804 in June of 1960 and worked out of the old Queens North building. We were known as the Queens North Marines. My Shop Steward was Ron Carey who was extremely helpful in getting me my seniority. As I got to know Ron I realized how […]
Martin Cruz, Long Island City
It was such an honor to be a Teamster with Ron as our leader. You wanted people to know that you were. (Ask me today if I care.) This is how I remember Ron: The excitement you felt when you knew he was coming to your building, this he did quite […]
Dennis C. Skelton, International Vice President (1991-1996)
Ron Carey was the most progressive labor leader of the last 50 years. He used his courage, strength and wisdom to create a vision and plan to thrust the Teamsters to the forefront of the labor movement during his tenure. Part of his great legacy will be the […]
Aaron Belk, International Vice President (1991-1998)
Ron Carey was what every leader should aspire to be. He was honest. He was frugal. And he was a caring man. Ron Carey did not like being in the limelight. He regretted the time he had to spend away from his family, of which he spoke often, and loved […]
John Tibbetts, Local 804 (Retired)
Ron Carey the President, the leader. He was respected by friend and foe alike. When Teamsters throughout the country realized that you were a Local 804 member, they would always ask about the legend “RON CAREY.” Yes, he was a legend—he led by example with honesty and integrity, and he […]
Jairo Reyes, Long Island City
My heart-filled wishes go out to the family of my President, my mentor and a role model. Ron was a true leader that cared for the working class. He knew what it meant to work for his members, to always keep the members informed at all times in the good and […]
Dave Oringer, Nassau, Feeder Dept.
I remember Ron Carey as our local president who made a point out of walking every building at least once a month and I remember how management used to scatter when he showed up. Every manager/supervisor feared him and every Teamster was a brother to him. Ron you will be missed […]
