Three members of Local 832 in New York City are shown being sworn in to new jobs of responsibility after their promotions. Taking part in the ceremony are (left to right): New York City Sanitation Commissioner Frank J. Lucia; Elsie A. Knight, Vice President of Local 832, and the newly promoted members—Esther Sperling, Margaret Holden and Mollie Grossbach. March 1965

DRIVE members from Vancouver prepare for trip to Washington. 1962

Right now, Leticia Acosta is in an airport.

If it’s morning, she’s probably at the UPS hub in San Antonio or Austin, Texas. If it’s evening, she’s on the phone in her hotel room.

But if it’s the afternoon, she’s at the airport, waiting on a flight and returning a phone call to Teamster Magazine to talk about her work, her union and how she got to where she is today.

DRIVE was the political action organization that James R. Hoffa founded in 1959 to counterattack the smear campaigns of anti-labor groups and politicians. Members of a Michigan DRIVE Motorcade arrive in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and lobby on behalf of the Teamsters. 1965

For Cara Brown, being a waitress meant no paid time off, no health insurance, no voice and no real future. The bright 29-year-old who comes from a union family wanted more for herself. She realized her future was with the union.

Jo Hoffa was instrumental in the union’s DRIVE program. In this photograph she greets well-wishers at a Teamster banquet. 1966

Employees of the Pan Am and Braniff airlines in Miami proudly display their choice for Teamster representation in an election. June, 1968

Teamsters Betty Sprague and Claire Brown from Local 638 clean fish at the Lyon Fish Co. in Minneapolis. 1954

Stewardesses (as they were then known) of Local 2707 grab attention by stripping down to bikinis during a strike at the Oakland Air Terminal. The efforts of the women were part of a larger strike on three continents and helped the local ratify a new agreement with World Airways. July 1970

Women have been instrumental to Teamster organizing campaigns in a variety of ways. At the headquarters in Washington, D.C., Teamster staff members Althea Minor and Donna McCoy file correspondences as they keep up with organizing campaigns around the country. January, 1979

By the late 1950s, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters began to fight back aggressively against anti-union smear campaigns through stronger political action. At a meeting of the Teamster Wives and Friends for Wayne Morse in Portland, Oregon, Teamster women endorsed the pro-labor Morse and showed their support for DRIVE. From left to right are: Mrs. James B. Sandby; Mrs. Clifford Coon; Mrs. Jesse Arnold; Minnie Woolworth (retired Teamster); Mrs. A.H. Mattoon and Mrs. Merton Miller.

Women’s skills have been important to the United States during many military conflicts. This advertisement from the International Teamster magazine shows the Teamsters Union’s support of the Red Cross in Korea where many women served. 1951

Stephanie Patiga is a mother and a wife. She is a hard worker and a career woman. But most of all, she is a visionary.

Driven, passionate and intense, Patiga is an International Organizer for the Teamsters Union. And as an organizer, she ensures that others become visionaries, too.

Clara Day’s contributions to Teamster history are truly memorable. She battled both race and gender stereotypes as she climbed many steps on her way to attaining a leadership position with Local 743 in Chicago.

One of the most notable women in Teamster history is Viola Liuzzo. Liuzzo was the wife of a Teamster business agent and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in. This determination to fight injustice would ultimately cost Liuzzo her life but her sacrifice helped strengthen the civil rights movement during the 1960s.

The following story was taken verbatim from the 1912 International Teamster magazine. More Teamster stories relating to Women's History Month can be found here.

In March 1944, Local 404 was featured in that month’s International Teamster magazine. The Springfield, Mass. local was being highlighted because it had a significant number of women among the membership. While women were entering the work force in growing numbers during World War II, Local 404’s total of 15 women among its bakery drivers would have been unusual for the 1940s.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment grants voting rights to women.

These 39 words changed the course of history: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

Here are more userful resources available online for Teamster women. These web sites, books and movies provide further information on Women's History Month and futher acquaints Teamster women to their union.

There are many useful resources available online for Teamster women. These web sites provide further information on Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, as well as acquaint Teamster women to their union and more.