Effective September 1, 2012, Rick Hicks will assume the presidency of Teamsters Joint Council 28, the parent body of twelve Teamster Locals representing approximately 56,000 union members across Washington State, Alaska, and northern Idaho.

“The Teamsters in the Pacific Northwest are dedicated to expanding the rights, wages and benefits of working families through political action, organizing, and strong representation,” Hicks said. “I plan to aggressively pursue those goals.”

Hicks joined the Teamsters in 1981 as a rank-and-file part-timer at United Parcel Service while attending college. He has been a Trustee on the JC28 Executive Board since 2010. He is also the principal officer of Teamsters Local 174, one of the most prominent truck driving Locals in the Teamsters Union.

Hicks will maintain his position with Local 174 while assuming the duties of JC28 President, which include political action and coordination with other Local Unions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Joint Council 28 consists of Local Unions with main offices in Tukwila, Everett, Bellingham, Bremerton, Port Angeles, Tacoma, Centralia, Pasco, Yakima, Spokane, and Anchorage, Alaska.

Hicks will replace John A. Williams, who is wrapping up a 38-year career as a Teamster representative. Williams served as the Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117 from 1992 to 2008 and most recently as the Director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Warehouse Division.

“Williams is an outstanding labor leader who has had a remarkable career representing the interests of working people. It is an honor to succeed him as President of Joint Council 28, and I will do everything in my power to build on his legacy,”

Hicks said. For more information, visit the Teamsters Joint Council 28 website at www.jc28.org or contact JC28 Executive Secretary Diana McDowell at (206) 441-7470.