Members Brave Mother Nature to Celebrate Teamster Women

Women’s Conference Brings Solidarity, Sisterhood to New York

The fierce winds and torrential rains of a Category One hurricane couldn’t stop Teamsters Joint Council 25 from showing its union pride at the Teamsters National Women’s Conference in New York.

More than 60 representatives and rank-and-file members from the Joint Council’s 20 affiliated locals took the Teamsters’ War on Workers to the Big Apple on August 26, 2011. For three days, Teamster women and men braved the threat of Hurricane Irene to march against reckless employers, stand up to anti-worker politicians, attend educational workshops and build greater solidarity within the union movement.

“Hurricane Irene is no match for Teamster women,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “The dedication of our members throughout the Chicago area to win the War on Workers is without question. The tenacity of Teamster women to stand together, fight together and win together is inspiring.”

Joint Council 25 hosted a special luncheon for local affiliates and supporters during the second day of the 11th annual conference. General President Jim Hoffa stopped by to greet members from Chicago, and called Teamster women to action in the ongoing struggle to protect rights and advantages in the workplace.

“Teamsters know how to fight, how to organize and how to win,” said Hoffa. “We’re facing a war on workers, but Teamster women are going to take back America for the middle class. I’m calling on each and every one of you to get involved.”

Members took to the New York streets on several occasions throughout the weekend, including a rally of hundreds to protest the current lockout of Teamster workers at Sotheby’s upscale Manhattan art house. Guest speakers, live music and a celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote on August 26, 1920, brought the spirited conference to a close on
August 28.

Teamster women everywhere are invited to attend the 12th Annual National Women’s Conference in San Francisco in 2012.

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

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