Teamster Stewards Improve Representation With Annual Training

Joint Council 25 Offers Support to English-, Spanish-Speaking Stewards

More than 100 stewards from around Illinois and Indiana gathered to strengthen Teamster representation during Teamsters Joint Council 25’s Annual Stewards Training on September 25, 2010.

Shawn Ellis of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ Training and Development Department led the six-hour training at Teamster City, examining and emphasizing the rights, roles and procedures of stewardship. Participating stewards from Chicago’s Department of Water Management, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brookfield Zoo, YRC, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and other Teamster employers discussed a range of specific topics, including grievance handling, duty of fair representation, contract enforcement and workers’ rights.

“A steward’s role in the workplace is critical to the enforcement of a Teamster contract and the protection of members from mistreatment,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “It is our duty to keep all stewards aware of their rights and advantages to get the job done, and to see so many members take advantage of this training is so promising for the future of our union.”

Spanish-speaking Teamsters comprised nearly 20 percent of training participants, representing members of Teamsters Local 743 and other local affiliates. To better assist all union stewards, Local 743 member Bill Rivera provided English-to-Spanish translation services throughout the day. The assistance offered by Joint Council 25 is an extension of translation services currently used during Local 743 membership meetings. Teamsters can utilize headsets as a live interpreter translates dialogue and information.

“I know the questions and answers I heard from other stewards will help me now in the future,” said Jorge Antonio Aquino, a Local 743 steward, “no matter which situations I face with members.”

“I am definitely more informed now of my responsibility as a steward,” added Diane Drew, a Teamsters Local 700 steward. “I feel empowered to be the best steward I can be.”

Those who participated in Joint Council 25’s annual training received additional information—including workbooks, a guide to stewardship and a list of the Weingarten Rights—to return to their workplaces and share with their Teamster brothers and sisters.

Teamsters Joint Council 25, which hosts a stewards training each fall, represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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