Teamsters Come Together in Support of Gov. Quinn

Members Join Quinn Campaign to Visit 50,000 Voters This Summer

When truck driver Robert Santana heard the Teamsters needed help educating voters on Gov. Pat Quinn, he was compelled to act.

“I thought it was important to volunteer to support the Teamsters and a candidate who supports unions,” said Santana, a Teamsters Local 700 member with the City of Chicago. “It’s important for me to take the time to get communities informed about who they should be supporting so we can all make the right decision on Election Day.”

On Saturday, May 15, 2010, Santana joined other Teamsters for the first in a series of housewalks in support of Pat Quinn for governor. The members visited about 1,300 homes in the La Grange Park and Franklin Park areas, a political blanket that will continue to expand as more and more volunteers join the effort. Teamsters aim to knock on 50,000 doors over the next three months.

“Any time you have rank-and-file members involved politically, it helps to empower the union,” said Mike Ciaccio, Teamsters Joint Council 25 Political Director. “We have working people reaching out to other voters and speaking with them about a candidate who will stand up for their rights. It sends a powerful message and really sets the Teamsters apart from other organizations because we have such an active member base.”

Teamsters also participated in housewalks for Gov. Quinn prior to this year’s February primaries.

Patricia Scanlan of the Joint Council 25 Women’s Committee said she is volunteering her time not only to speak to women voters but to also send a message to Teamster women.

“Women need to get out there. If they don’t do it for themselves, no one will do it for them,” said Scanlan, who’s also an executive board member of Teamsters Local 458M. “Pat Quinn is sympathetic toward women’s issues. He’s easy to talk to and ready to listen, and he’s willing to take the first step toward doing more for women.”

Teamsters across Illinois are encouraged to join in the housewalk effort. The second series of walks will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2010, in the LongHorn Steakhouse parking lot at 7070 Forest Preserve Ave., Norridge, IL. Members will be walking in Norridge, Portage Park and surrounding towns.

“If you have time, you should come out,” Santana said. “I know everyone has a life away from work, but this type of activity is important in the long run. These things can impact the future of working families.”

For more information on getting involved, contact Joint Council 25 Political Director Mike Ciaccio at (847) 292-1225 or mikec@chicagoteamsters.org.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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