DANNY L. BARTON
PRESIDENT
I joined Teamsters Local #299 in Detroit, Jimmy Hoffa's Local, in 1968 working for Ellis Trucking Company. Ellis was bought out by Navajo Freight Lines, I served as both Alternate Steward and Steward for 8 years. I was transferred to Local 135 in Indianapolis in July 1972. I went to work for Local 135 as a Business Representative in 1978. I was appointed Secretary-Treasurer in 1988 and held that position until I was appointed President in 1996. I have 2 sons, a daughter and 2 grandsons.
BRIAN R. BUHLE
Secretary-Treasurer
I joined the staff of Local 135 as an Organizer in 1989 after receiving my Bachelors of Science degree from Ball State University and after working various Teamster jobs while going to school. In 1992 I became a Business Agent representing various companies while continuing to organize. In 1996 I was appointed to Director of Organizing for Local 135. In 2002 I was appointed by Mayor of Indianapolis Bart Peterson to serve as member of the Workforce Development Board of the Indianapolis Private Industry Council. In 2003 I was appointed to the position of Vice President of Local 135. In April of 2006 I was elected by the executive board to the position of Secretary Treasurer . In my career at Local 135 I have organized over 50 companies into the membership of Local 135, and have led successful strikes against Head Start in 1998 and 2003. I have three children ages 10, 7, and 3 months old.
RALPH D. BROOKS
Vice President
RANSOME B. BRADLEY
TRUSTEE
Ransome B. Bradley, was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947 and migrated to Indianapolis Indiana in 1952, and has never looked back since. After leaving the Indianapolis Schools system, I was married and became a father of three children. I worked at various jobs, including driving taxicabs and working in Security. The Metro Bus Company employed me as a bus driver in 1973, where I was a dues paying union member of the Amalgamated Transit Union #1070.
I was one of the front leaders in protesting Mayor Steven Goldsmith's decision to privatize the Transit System. I assisted with the demonstrations and where ever I was needed to fight against this move. Our fight spilled over to the Indianapolis City County Council, where the final decision was made to honor the Mayor's request. I feel we fought a good fight. I decided to take an early retirement in 1996 and received the key to the city of Indianapolis, for 23 years of dedicated professional service to this City.
I began working for Family Development Service Head Start in 1997. At that time there was no job security and workers had very few rights and were subject to mistreatment in many areas. After hearing of their plight, I was sympathetic to their cause and was asked to assist them in getting some solutions to their problems to help end the chaos in FDS Head start.
After I met with Mr. Brian Buhle, the Business Representative at that time, my co-workers and I were convinced that we wanted to become a part of the Teamsters Union Local #135. With a 99% vote, the union was ratified. The struggle and challenge of getting organized had begun. It was because of the encouragement from members like Ms. Deborah Epps and Ms. Constance Jones that I found the strength necessary to stand up for what we all knew and believed was the proper and fitting thing to do to help ourselves our of the dilemma we found ourselves in.
To better serve the people, who now relied on me to represent them, I took a training course to become a more effective Union Steward and coordinator in Union affairs. A Professor from IUPUI taught us, and I received a certificate for successful completion. I held the position of Steward for one year and Chief Steward for the past three years.
it took a three-week strike to get FDS Head start's management team to recognize and accept Local #135 as the new bargaining unit for their employees. It took the combined efforts of the Ministerial Alliance, the media, parent involvement as well as Congresswoman Julia Carson, to bring FDS to the bargaining table for good faith negotiations.
After successfully organizing the Transportation Department, other classifications of FDS workers asked me to represent them also. Some of my peers and I were able to get the membership of Local #135 to help us meet this new challenge to organize and unionize them. Many meetings had to be held in secret, in restaurants and in city parks to achieve this feat. Finally in 2000 there was a three year agreement signed which included benefits and job security for all Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Family Case Managers, Maintenance and Food Service personnel along with Bus Drivers and Monitors. We all became a part of the Collective Bargaining Unit of Teamsters Local #135.
With the knowledge gained form my training and experience, I was invited to go to South Bend, Indiana to help assist them in getting their Transportation Department organized. Today, I am proud to say that the South Bend Head start's part of the Teamster Union family.
On December 1, 2001 after a whirlwind courtship, I was united in matrimony to Mrs. Shannon Kirk Bradley, an Assistant Teacher at FDS Service Center #1. She has been a loyal companion and proponent of the Union's causes. I'll be forever grateful for her understanding and tolerance.
On March 28, 2003, I was appointed to the Local #135 Executive Board of Trustees and sworn in by Mr. Douglas Schmidt, Vice President, to replace Mr. James Fingers who had retired.
My special "Thanks" are sent out to everyone/anyone who helped me to reach the new position, and level op responsibility I now find myself elevated to. Again, a very special Thanks goes to my wife, Faithful companion and co-worker "Shannon". I intend to continue to represent the members of Local #135 as Chief Steward and Trustee tot he best of my ability and with your continued support, we'll be bigger and better than ever. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
SARAH REVARD
Trustee
JIM WILKINSON
Trustee
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