Teamster Members Sign Up to Organize

Recently, 75 Teamster members devoted their weekend to participating in the Joint Council 28 Teamster Organizers Boot Camp, one of many trainings held at Joint Councils across the country as part of an effort to build the “Mighty Army” of Teamster volunteer organizers. The goal is to build Teamster power by recruiting and training 1,000 new member organizers this year.

“I’m very proud of Joint Council 28, our local unions, and especially the members, for participating in the organizers boot camp. It is trainings and programs like these that strengthen and help grow our union,” said Al Hobart, International Union Vice President and President of Joint Council 28.

The training covered a number of subjects with one theme in mind—effectively
communicating the union message to others. 

Leonard Smith, Director of Organizing with Local 117 in Tukwila, presented on the topic, “Opening the Lines of Communication by Understanding the Generation Gaps”. This module examined various characteristics of each generation in the workplace and the impact it has on organizing in order to improve communication skills with current and future members.

The participants each gained something different and useful from the training to use in communicating with fellow workers.

 “I acquired communication tools that will help me in all of my interpersonal relations,” said Terry Keller, a member of Local 174.

“I’m learning how to talk to people differently and sharpening my organizing skills,” said Eric Johnson of Spokane-based Local 690.

The training concluded with a piece called, “Moving Workers to Action”. Every Teamster member that participates in Joint Council member organizer trainings participates in an action, such as house calling, rallying or helping out with a Teamster-supported issue. The participants at the Joint Council 28 training wrote letters to their state senator in support of the FedEx Express Carrier legislation.