Northern California Members Pack Boot Camp
November 4, 2009
The attendance at Joint Council 7’s spirited boot camp was impressive, and if the enthusiasm and interest of the rank-and-filers assembled in San Jose is any indication of the success of the boot camp, it would appear that many of Northern California's nonunion workers will soon become proud members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Over 200 Northern California Teamsters packed Local 287's San Jose hall on a recent Saturday for a full day of instruction at the Teamsters Organizers Boot Camp. The training, led by some of the top Teamster organizers, is a traveling classroom dedicated to bringing 1,000 new volunteer member organizers into Teamster organizing campaigns by the end of the year.
The attendance at Joint Council 7’s spirited boot camp was impressive, and if the enthusiasm and interest of the rank-and-filers assembled in San Jose is any indication of the success of the boot camp, it would appear that many of Northern California's nonunion workers will soon become proud members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.Rome Aloise, International Union Vice President for the Western Region and President of Joint Council 7, opened the session by emphasizing the absolute necessity of developing effective organizers and talked about his commitment to training new volunteer organizers.
“This seminar showed me how to talk and listen to my union peers,” said Gilbert De La Cerda, a member of Local 350. “This was my first boot camp seminar and I’m glad that I attended.”
“I have never organized before and everything I heard and read in this seminar was very educating and informative,” said Gregory Szatmari, a member of Local 853, “It was useful to understand the steps in organizing and steps in achieving goals to get others members participating.”
The boot camp’s message was clear: In order to continue to grow the union, members need to get involved. Becoming a volunteer member organizer is one way members can make a significant impact. Find out more about becoming a Teamster volunteer member organizer by clicking here.
