Hello Randy,
The training this Saturday was very inspiring to me - but probably for very different reasons than most of your participants has. As one of the bargaining team members for CUE (but not an officer), I know more about board decisions than the average rank and file member. Other than at bargaining, however, I have no voice and no vote on most of the choices the leaders make. Right now, the bargaining team (our contract expired in '08) is working with Michael Filler; he's the director of Public Services. I wish I could share with him what your training taught me - we need a membership drive BEFORE we launch (re-launch") a contract campaign. Our voting member numbers are so low, it's obvious the company campaign is doing very well - people are afraid to join the union. They think it will end their ability get promotions or transfer to different departments. What does this give us to bargain with? I tell you, not a whole lot. We cannot build the critical mass needed to really get my employers attention. I get so mad when someone tells me, "What are the Teamsters doing for us?" Lazy bum, what are you doing for yourself! But like I said, the powers that be have chosen a path for us to follow and I haven't discovered a way to get my voice heard. Well, with this last training - and a push from Grace that I'm sure she didn't know she gave, I decided to begin an unofficial membership drive at my chapter. With 10 chapters all throughout the state, my work alone won't turn the tide. But maybe if I'm lucky, I can get the ball rolling.

Thank you for all you do. Your work helps future Teamsters - and the new ones too!

Eve Kent
Local 2010
Riverside Chapter