Local 986 Hosts Training for Stewards

More than 100 stewards from Local 986 in El Monte, California, attended a one-day training session sponsored by the local on May 30. The training was conducted by Sally Payne, Associate Director of the Teamsters Training and Development Department, and Jack Peasley, Western Region Field Representative from the Teamsters Field Action Department

Secretary-Treasurer Chris Griswold opened the session and welcomed the stewards. He was followed by President Sean Harren who thanked the stewards for attending and introduced the instructors.

Peasley brought the stewards up to date on the Employee Free Choice Act and its impact on the union and their role as stewards. “Politics affects everything we do, from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed,” Peasley said.

The participants were very interested in learning how this legislation, if passed, would help protect works who want to organize. It would also help to level the playing field between labor and management.

The rest of the day was spent on sharpening the basic skills of grievance handling and building solidarity. Payne helped the stewards analyze grievance case studies in addition to leading a variety of other discussions and exercises geared to increasing member participation.