It has allowed me to retire with pride as a Teamster. I never went to the construction side. I was a line driver from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back or Kenai, Homer, Soldotna, Seward, Whittier, and one time, Canada. Back during the earthquake. Not the big one. I wasn’t old enough to be a Teamster then but I’m proud of the Teamsters. I had a decent job. Good representation, good hospitalization. I had to use it one time when a driver crossed the Meridian between the two sides of the Glen Highway. I spent over a year recuperating and my union made sure I had good hospitalization and because it was on the job I was in an accident. I had money coming in without working for over a year. I’d say that was a pretty good deal.
I was honored to have been with good leaders from Jesse Carr to Cal Stroble. When the Port of Anchorage was destroyed by the tsunami wave of water we had to drive into Canada and meet with the Canadian drivers to pick up freight and haul it back to the stores. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better career than to be a Teamster and I’m proud to be one.
I am now living on the retirement from the Teamsters and because I’m an old fart. I also have Social Security. I think I’m doing a lot better than a lot of people and I have many brother Teamsters. I proudly wear my 55-year pin from the Teamsters. I don’t know if I could live on just Social Security. Those people who have no secured retirement when their businesses go out of business they’re done. It’s an honorable profession and I’m proud to be a retired Teamster and member of 959. Sincerely, Darrell Shoop.