Teamster Talk #18: Port truckers take a stand!
Quote of the month: "There were people who were beaten, whipped, and firehosed fighting for civil rights. We can’t let a little snow stop us from honoring their sacrifice,” Azziem Underwood, Teamster at King County

IN THIS ISSUE:

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE | LOCAL 117 HOMEPAGE

A message from your Secretary-Treasurer, Tracey A. Thompson

Local 117 honors Dr. King's legacy
Undeterred by snow and icy streets, a small, but animated group of Teamsters joined several hundred community members in honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16 at the 30th annual MLK March and Rally in Seattle.

Students, civil rights activists, labor leaders, elected officials and union members gathered at Garfield High School for the daylong celebration that included morning workshops, an 11 A.M. rally, and a march from Seattle’s Central District to the federal building downtown. Read more

Recycle workers gear up for negotiations
The future is in recycling,” said Secretary-Treasurer Thompson as the initial demands meeting for Local 117 members working for Waste Management got underway on January 14. 

Contracts for approximately 250 recycle and yard waste drivers at Waste Management and Allied Waste expire at the end of May of this year, and all indications point to challenging contract negotiations ahead. Read more

King County employees pledge $1.5 million to charity
There was a little more on the tables of families in need this holiday season thanks to the tremendous generosity of Teamsters at King County.

In all, King County employees, many of whom are Teamsters, pledged more than $1.573 million for the more than 700 nonprofits in its charitable giving program for 2011. Read more

DOC News: Local 117 members testify against early release
Members of Teamsters Local 117 from the Department of Corrections went before lawmakers in a hearing in the House Ways & Means committee on Wednesday, January 11, to speak out against proposed legislation (HB 2144) that, if enacted, would release offenders 150 days early.

“Offenders would be released into our communities who are not ready to be there. The end result is that they will reoffend,” said Secretary-Treasurer Thompson. Read more

February 2012

Mark your calendars!
Feb. 23 - Lobby Day

March 10 - Stewards' Seminar

March 15 - Membership Mtg.

Local 117 Lobby Day: February 23
Our elected leaders in Olympia have the power to prevent job loss and protect safe staffing levels for Teamsters across Washington State.

Please join us for our second lobby day of 2012. This is your opportunity to speak directly to your Legislators and make your voice heard! For more information, contact Lily Wilson-Codega at 206-794-1262.

Shop Stewards' Seminar: March 10
Local 117 Shop Stewards will be gathering for your Union's 25th annual Shop Steward Seminar and Appreciation Day on March 10 from 8:30 AM to 2 PM at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. For more information, visit www.teamsters117.org.

Quarterly Membership Meeting: March 15
Join your fellow Teamsters for your Union's quarterly membership meeting. New members who attend the New Member Orientation Meeting may be eligible for a reduction of their initiation fee. More info. at www.teamsters117.org.