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James P. Hoffa
James P. Hoffa (right) with his father in 1965
Born	May 9, 1941 (1941-05-09) (age 68) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney; union leader
Spouse(s)	Virginia Hoffa
Children	David Hoffa; Geoffrey Hoffa
Parents	Jimmy and Josephine (Poszywak) Hoffa

James Phillip Hoffa (May 19, 1941) is an American attorney and labor leader and the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Hoffa was first elected in December 1998 and took office on March 19, 1999. He was subsequently re-elected in 2001 and 2006 to five-year terms.

In recent years, Hoffa has led a resurgence in organizing at the Teamsters resulting in a net increase of members in 2007, the first year of net growth in the union in nearly three decades. Recent significant organizing victories include more than 12,000 workers at UPS Freight, 9,000 mechanics at United Airlines and 10,000 school bus drivers at First Student. The union added more than 40,000 new members in 2008.

Hoffa is also a leading voice for fair trade policies and a wide-range of worker-friendly legislation. Hoffa has recently advocated for reforming the nation's health care system and launched a new website called Teamsters for Health Care Reform Now.^[1] He also penned an blog piece on the Huffington Post attacking Whole Foods for undermining efforts to win Congressional reform. ^[2] Hoffa also spoke on the Thom Hartmann radio program about the politics of health care reform. ^[3]

A billboard in Detroit supporting Hoffa in 1998 (still standing as of July 2006).

On February 20, 2008, Hoffa became the first major union leader to endorse Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) in his bid for President of the United States.^[4] Hoffa actively campaigned in key swing states for Obama throughout the primary and general election. He served as a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention^[4] in Denver and a member of the Michigan Electoral College.^[5][6]

[edit] Personal Life

He is the only son of Jimmy Hoffa, who was also a president of the Teamsters, and his wife Josephine (née Poszywak). He is the brother of Judge Barbara Ann Crancer. Hoffa has a wife, Virginia, and two sons, David and Geoffrey.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on May 19, 1941, Hoffa established himself as a leader as early as his high school years while attending Cooley High School. There, he became a member of the National Honor Society, and an all-city and all-state football player.

Hoffa often accompanied his father to Teamster meetings and events, and became a Teamster on his 18th birthday. Hoffa holds a degree in economics from Michigan State University (1963) and a law degree (LL.B) from the University of Michigan Law School (1966). Hoffa was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship to work in the Michigan State Senate as an aide to senate and house members doing constituent relations and research. Hoffa is a member of Alpha Tau Omega.

Hoffa was an attorney for the Teamsters from 1968 to 1993. A member of the Teamsters since his 18th birthday (1959), he ran for president in 1996, losing to Ron Carey. He became president of the Teamsters on March 19, 1999, after Carey was barred from running for his role in Teamstergate.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Biography at teamster.org
• James P. Hoffa on NPR