day began working for teamsters local 670 in 1958. this local represented cannery workers in oregon's willamette valley. author brent walth noted that day viewed his role with the teamsters as a crusader, working to clean up a union often accused of connections to organized crime. day's brother frank noted day's "talent for persuading people." day quickly rose from working as a union organizer of cannery workers to serving as secretary-general of the local.