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Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Inspires Teamster Women

October 8, 2009

Before heading to the stage to address 1,000 Teamster women at the 2009 Teamsters Women’s Conference, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis met privately with a smaller audience of about 30 workers and their families. Solis was caring and compassionate as she asked the primarily Hispanic workers, in Spanish, about their working conditions and the loss of their jobs. The 30 Republic Services workers were recently fired while organizing with the Teamsters.

In a rally held the day before, Teamsters from throughout North America who were attending the Teamsters Women’s Conference converged on the Las Vegas City Hall. Holding signs that read “Justice”, “Dignity” and “Respect”, the Teamsters joined a coalition of labor, community and faith organizations that were making their voices heard in support of these workers’ rights.  

After meeting privately with the Republic workers, Solis went on stage, wearing a Teamster pin on the lapel of her blue suit.

“I’m wearing my Teamster pin here because I feel like this is my family,” Solis said. “In many ways I feel very close to this union. It was my father’s membership in the Teamsters that allowed my family and my six brothers and sisters to have health care benefits and a good life.”

In her address, Solis spoke about the importance of passing the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would make it easier for workers, like those at Republic Services, to form a union in their workplace.
 
Stirred by Solis
 
“To hear Hilda Solis speak was very motivating, especially as a Latina woman. It’s motivating to know that she could reach the rank of Labor Secretary,” said Gabriela Molina, a shop steward at UPS and member of Local 63 in Covina, California.
 
“I think it’s the greatest thing to have a woman as the Labor Secretary. We need to see more women in high positions like that,” said Teresa Lane, a member of Local 986 and chief steward at MillerCoors, who also happened to grow up in La Puente, the same California town as Solis. “Hilda Solis is very articulate and I was very moved by the things she had to say.”
 
Solis’s appearance at the conference inspired many Teamster women to go for their own goals, including Edith Dunlap, a First Student bus driver and member of Atlanta-based Local 728. 
 
“It’s awesome to see a woman as U.S. Secretary of Labor,” Dunlap said. “It makes me think, ‘Hey, you’re not too old; race isn’t an issue. You can accomplish anything if you want to.”