Teamster

English translation: general assistant/helper

14:26 Nov 22, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Human Resources / Circus
English term or phrase: Teamster
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!
boostrer
United States
Local time: 05:39
Selected answer:general assistant/helper
Explanation:
My idea.
Selected response from:

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 04:39
Grading 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!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3truck drivers
Terry Richards
4 +1general assistant/helper
Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
4workers registered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
airmailrpl
3those who deal with the animals
Jack Doughty


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
teamster
those who deal with the animals


Explanation:
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 ...



Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:39
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 46
Notes to answerer
Asker: It sounds reasonable and convincing, but couldn't you please find some proof? I managed to, but failed.

Asker: Most likely, I'll chose your answer, but your refs aren't convincing.

Asker: Thank you. It was the likeliest meaning in my opinion, but Feld people didn't confirm this guess.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
teamster
truck drivers


Explanation:
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.

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 10:39
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
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.

Asker: Your reference doesn't prove anything, because the circus context is absent there. I have already seen this article.

Asker: 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!

Asker: As I always say: never believe the dictionaries and Wiki. See the context.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
teamster
general assistant/helper


Explanation:
My idea.

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 04:39
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading 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!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  acetran
1 day 15 hrs
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
teamsters
workers registered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters


Explanation:
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...

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 06:39
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
Notes to answerer
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.

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