Teamster Organizers Bootcamp Boosts Ranks in Illinois
Joint Council 65 in Springfield, Illinois, recently hosted a Teamster Member Organizer Boot Camp, one of many such programs being held at Teamster Joint Councils nationwide in an effort to recruit more than 1,000 new Teamster member organizers this year.
The program began with a heartfelt welcome from Joint Council 65 President Keith Gleason, in which he thanked the participants for volunteering their time on a Saturday to take part in this important training. 
President Gleason’s words were immediately followed by an important introductory icebreaker that underscored the importance of relationship building with workers.
The daylong agenda included topics such as, “The State of Teamster Organizing;” “Your Role as a Member Organizer;” and “Communicating the Union Message,” followed by a real life action, in which participants drove to a Kohl’s store to leaflet in support of the port drivers campaign.
Workers Helping Workers
“This seminar provided information and skills to help organize other workers by doing home visits,” said Kirk “David” Heard, a member of Local 26 in Champaign, Illinois. “I’ve learned new skills on how to tell my story and relate to other workers.”
Laura Traber, a member of Belleville-based Local 50, learned more about national campaigns at the training and about how to strengthen her communication skills.
“We will soon be in contract negotiations and I have found some useful information to share with my coworkers,” Traber said.
Christopher T. Hopkins, a member of Local 627 in Peoria, left the training confident in his abilities to effectively help workers organize.
“This seminar was useful in teaching me the right way to talk to other workers,” Hopkins said.
