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turn on your own
Nov 22, 2016 14:26
7 yrs ago
9 viewers *
English term

Teamster

English Bus/Financial Human Resources Circus
I am translating a document about the health care coverage, which certain insurer provides for "Performers, Teamsters, Crew" working for Feld Entertainment, Inc.
There is no other context there.

What does this word mean in this context? I have a strong feeling that a teamster of this sort is just any employee, but who are Performers and Crew, if I am right?

Thank you!
Responses
4 +1 general assistant/helper
4 +3 truck drivers
4 workers registered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
3 those who deal with the animals
Change log

Nov 22, 2016 16:46: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Bus/Financial"

Nov 22, 2016 16:49: boostrer changed "Field" from "Bus/Financial" to "Other"

Nov 24, 2016 19:49: Matheus Chaud changed "Field" from "Other" to "Bus/Financial"

Discussion

airmailrpl Nov 23, 2016:
Article I - ARTICLE I RECOGNITION The Employer recognizes recognize the Union as the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent for all workingmen technicians riggers and animal handlers employed by the Employers traveling units. The bargaining unit shall exclude
supervisors guards performers administrative and clerical personnel and...
airmailrpl Nov 23, 2016:
should probably read this: [PDF]Agreement Between Teamsters Local Union No. 688 and Feld ...
www.eswr.com/docs/Ringling/463-13.pdf
AGREEMENT BETWEEN. TEAMSTERS. TEAMSTER LOCAL. AND. FELD ENTERTAINMENT INC. dba RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM. BAILEY CIRCUS.
boostrer (asker) Nov 23, 2016:
2 Alison Thank you for these references. They were really helpful, even though I have chosen a different translation (see my note to Juan's answer).
Alison MacG Nov 23, 2016:
@airmailrpl - re: members of the Teamsters Union I think it is likely that you are correct. In support: (i) Feld Entertainment job ad - Position: Floor Crew - Department: Circus Operations - This is a Teamster position with entry level pay. https://www.feldentertainment.com/Careers/DisplayJob/45642/
(ii) "...Personnel include a hundred performers, as well as almost a hundred Teamsters (Local 688, St. Louis) which include animal handlers, wardrobe, backstage crew, vehicle maintenance, and railroad car maintenance. There are also electrical staff, which operate the special effects, lighting, and audio for the productions themselves, and a large contingent of concessions sales staff..." http://trainweb.org/carl/The Circus Moves By Rail/
(iii) "Are you aware that the working men and women of The Greatest Show on Earth are brothers and sisters of The Teamsters? That's right! The animal handlers, riggers, light & sound technicians, wardrobe, props, pyrotechnics, transportation crew, train crew and the ring & floor crews are all members of Local 688 St. Louis, Missouri. https://www.facebook.com/FXFEteamsters/photos/a.151692778520...
airmailrpl Nov 23, 2016:
Intern. Brotherhood of Teamsters circus workers The most prominent example is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which was expelled from the A.F.L.-C.I.O. in 1957. Aided by mergers and aggressive organizing, the teamsters have become the largest labor union in the country, embracing not only truckers but grocery clerks, brewers, nurses, clerical workers, launderers, police, zookeepers, circus workers and the people who wear Mickey Mouse and Goofy costumes at Walt Disney World.
http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/13/us/unions-economic-trouble...
airmailrpl Nov 23, 2016:
"teamsters" team·ster
ˈtēmstər/
noun
noun: teamster; plural noun: teamsters

1.
North American
a truck driver.
a member of the Teamsters Union, including truck drivers, chauffeurs, and warehouse workers.
2.
a driver of a team of animals.

Historic references to early freight transportation in the US refer to "teamsters" as those who drove teams of horses pulling huge wagons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_T...

Responses

+1
6 hrs
Selected

general assistant/helper

My idea.
Peer comment(s):
agree acetran
1 day 15 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Upon consulting with Ringling Brothers and Feld Inc., I can confirm that these are just crew members. The name itself is somehow related to the name of the union, but doesn't apply specifically to its members. I have translated "crew and employees". Thank you!"
9 mins

those who deal with the animals

Teamsters were originally those who drove teams of horses or other animals pulling cargo carriages. There is a Teamsters' Union in the USA for truck drivers. Here I think it must mean those who look after the animals, as opposed to the performers (clowns, acrobats etc.) and the crew, who erect and dismantle tents and do ll the other routine jobs.

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Note added at 1 hr (2016-11-22 15:40:21 GMT)
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Found one or two. The teamsters certainly drove teams of horses, and I imagine they must have looked after them too.

The original calliopes produced music by forcing steam through banks of whistles. They were played by a keyboard or by mechanical means, after the workings of a player piano. Carried on wagons drawn by teams of horses, driven by a teamster, they were a standard feature of circus parades and, because they were extremely loud, would alert people from miles around that the circus was in town.

https://garystormsongs.com/tag/teamster/

From “Staging the Great Circus Parade”, by Jim & Donna Petersen:
Teamster meetings were held pn Saturday after all possible runs were finished.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=97w4CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53&lpg...

DVD- From The Drivers Seat - Circus World Baraboo

www.circusworldbaraboo.org/product/dvd-from-the-drivers-sea...
Ever wonder what it is like to be a teamster for the Great Circus Parade? This DVD puts you in the driver's seat while they load the circus wagons for the Great ...

Note from asker:
It sounds reasonable and convincing, but couldn't you please find some proof? I managed to, but failed.
Most likely, I'll chose your answer, but your refs aren't convincing.
Thank you. It was the likeliest meaning in my opinion, but Feld people didn't confirm this guess.
Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : Your references are good, but they support Terry's answer. And circuses are one of many forms of entertainment this company operates: it also does things like ice skating and motorsports.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+3
3 mins

truck drivers

They drive the trucks full of equipment that the crew sets up so the performers can perform.

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Note added at 4 mins (2016-11-22 14:31:04 GMT)
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See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teamster


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Note added at 2 hrs (2016-11-22 17:00:42 GMT)
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I used to own a sound and lighting company in the USA and worked more shows and tours than I can count. I stand by my answer.

BTW, The polite way to respond to an answer you disagree with is to say "thank you" and then pick another answer.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2016-11-22 17:19:35 GMT)
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As you wish. Don't worry about learning from it as you will never have the need to use it again, at least not with me and probably not with any of the other contributeurs that have seen your remarks.
Note from asker:
Are you sure? I do know that once it meant "cabman", and then this word was used for "truck drivers". However, it is also a name of a union (of I cannot understand which workers), it is used sometimes for supervisors, and so on. So, I would like to see some proof. Otherwise, I cannot be sure if you are right.
Your reference doesn't prove anything, because the circus context is absent there. I have already seen this article.
I deeply appreciate yours and philgoddard's efforts to educate me and teach the polite way of asking questions. Finally, 50 years after I was born, I realized how rude I am - unlike you, great, polite, and amazing guys. Thank you!
As I always say: never believe the dictionaries and Wiki. See the context.
Peer comment(s):
agree Donna Stevens : In the old days, they drove teams of horses. That's why they're called teamsters. http://www.thecircusblog.com/?p=21099
19 mins
agree philgoddard : How rude and ungrateful can anyone get? And doesn't this guy have Google? If you enter "define teamster", the first thing it says is "a truck driver".
1 hr
agree acetran
1 day 22 hrs
Something went wrong...
16 hrs
English term (edited): teamsters

workers registered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters

teamsters => workers registered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (labor union)

International Brotherhood of Teamsters & circus workers

The most prominent example is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which was expelled from the A.F.L.-C.I.O. in 1957. Aided by mergers and aggressive organizing, the teamsters have become the largest labor union in the country, embracing not only truckers but grocery clerks, brewers, nurses, clerical workers, launderers, police, zookeepers, circus workers and the people who wear Mickey Mouse and Goofy costumes at Walt Disney World.
http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/13/us/unions-economic-trouble...
Note from asker:
Thank you! You are right to some extent (see my reply to Juan's answer), but the current "circus" meaning of this word is wider.
Something went wrong...
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