Hispanic Caucus Convention: Unity, Pride and Fighting the Good Fight

Several hundred members of the Teamsters Hispanic Caucus converged in Chicago on Thursday, July 15, to talk about fighting for fair wages and decent treatment – together. View all photos from this event.

The theme of one union helping many people was reinforced by delegates representing the first chapters in California, Chicago and New York to the newest in Florida, New Jersey and Las Vegas.

The crowd was welcomed to Chicago by John Coli, President of Joint Council 25, and Jesse Miranda, Business Agent for Local 703.

Art Cantu, Interim President of the Hispanic Caucus, directed all the delegates to introduce themselves. One by one, they stood and talked about working hard and sticking with the union. They described how they teach young people about the union. They urged each other to get their members involved and never to give up.

Ron Herrera, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 396, said there are two things he’s proud of: being Hispanic and being a Teamster.

As a young man, Herrera said, he had to choose to be a longshoreman or a Teamster. As a kid, he’d been fascinated by Jimmy Hoffa.

He became a Teamster.

Read more about the National Teamsters Hispanic 2010 Caucus Convention.