by Wilfred C. Rodgers

The Boston Sunday

Globe (June 22, 1958)

Al Page of Auburn, full-time organizer for the Teamsters, was reelected a vice president of the Maine merged labor movement without opposition.

"Meany and the AFL-CIO Executive Council a few months ago handed down verbal instructions that persons on the Teamster Union payroll were ineligible to hold office in state bodies.

The ruling only three weeks ago caused James Dykeman, president of the Vermont merged labor movement, to retire from office.

The Teamsters Union--the nation's largest--last December was expelled from the AFL-CIO on grounds it was dominated by corrupt influences.

Page's reelection today was swift and without debate, as were all the other incumbent officers."

Page was the only Teamster to run for office at the organization's second biennial convention that ended here today. He is one of the most popular labor leaders in the state.

Tall and rangy, Page was one of the New England delegation that refused to be pressured into voting for James R. Hoffa as president of the Teamsters at the union's last convention.

It was Hoffa's election that brought about expulsion of the Teamsters.

Meany is attending a labor convention in Europe. Whether any action will be taken against the Maine Federated Labor Council before he returns is questionable.

"If no action is taken, then labor leaders see the Maine Federated Labor Council action in reelecting Page as setting a precedent that may affect teamsters in all parts of the nation.

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update 25 July 2008