Teamsters Address Taft High School Students  

Importance of Union Benefits Stressed During Presentation

Chicago Teamster members attended two session on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel on April 16 and 17. 

Teamsters Local 727 Business Agent Jon Magna addressed the Taft High School students on April 15.

Taft High School students got the opportunity to learn about the Teamsters Local 727 Union on April 15. 

Becky Strzechowski, Teamsters Local 727 Vice President and Business Manager, and Jon Magna, Teamsters Local 727 Business Agent addressed three Computer Software Application classes at the Chicago public high school. 

Strzechowski and Magna discussed how unions work, the history of labor unions, the many types of jobs Teamsters work as well as the importance of benefits.

“Today, there are so many jobs that do not allow a person to support a family, have adequate health insurance or send their kids to college,” Strzechowski said.  “And that is why it is so very important for high school students to understand what a union job can offer them for the rest of their lives.”

The computer class is part of the Chicago Public Schools Education To Careers (ETC) program, which offers students opportunities to gain valuable job skills.  Bob Simonsis, Taft High School’s Computer Software Application teacher, has been teaching ETC classes for the past five years at Taft.  Throughout the school year, speakers address the students on a variety of career possibilities.

“These students are going to be out looking for jobs in a few years, and it is so important that they understand what makes a good job,” Simonsis said.  “The students need to understand the importance of insurance, a pension and paid time off.”

Teamsters Local 727 represents members in Chicago in the auto livery chauffeurs, funeral directors, embalmers apprentices, ambulance drivers and helpers, taxicab drivers, miscellaneous garage employees, car washers, greasers, polishers and wash rack attendants industries. 

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