E-Newsletter Sign-up

Sign-up to receive Teamster Talk, Local 117's e-newsletter. For archived issues, click here.

Upcoming Events:
Executive Board Meeting
Feb 11, 2010
Teamsters Local 117
Steward Advisory Council
Feb 20, 2010
Teamsters Local 117: 14675 Interurban Ave. S.; Tukwila, WA 98168
DOC Stewards' Seminar
Mar 05, 2010
Shop Steward Seminar & Appreciation Lunch
Mar 06, 2010
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
Executive Board Meeting
Mar 11, 2010
Teamsters Local 117

Organizing lead yields reward for Local 117 members
Updated On: Dec 07, 2009 (11:47:00) Print or Save this ArticlePRINT/SAVE Article Email Article to FriendEMAIL Article
Reward recipient Cynthia Adams and Business Representative, Betty Sorbo
Two Teamster Shop Stewards at King County have received a generous chunk of extra holiday spending money thanks to a Local 117 organizing program that provides up to $1000 for bringing new members into the Union.
Penny Karki  of King County’s Water and Land Resources Division and Cynthia Adams of the County’s Solid Waste Division split the $1000 dollar reward for helping to organize 10 non-Union County employees in the Capacity Charge program of the Wastewater Treatment Division. 
Both Karki and Adams are committed Union supporters and understand the power of a Union contract. “With the Union, we have bumping rights, guaranteed cost of living increases, and job security that non-represented staff don’t have,” said Karki.
So when one of their non-Union co-workers at the County approached them about organizing with the Teamsters, they encouraged her to pursue Union membership. “We told her that the Union provides protection and that the more of us that are unionized, the stronger our bargaining power,” Karki said.
The two Shop Stewards helped set up a meeting between one of the County’s non-represented Capacity Charge employees and Local 117 Business Representative, Betty Sorbo, along with Local 117 Director of Organizing, Leonard Smith. What followed was a process that led to the protections of a collective bargaining agreement for the Capacity Charge unit and a $1000 windfall for the two members to share.     
Says Cynthia, “I wanted to make sure that my friends at Capacity Charge knew that layoffs were coming and I wanted them to be represented. I told them that the Union provides solidarity and strength in numbers. With that strength comes a stronger voice in the workplace.”
Since being approved by the Local 117 Executive Board in 2005, the Union organizing program has paid out thousands of dollars to Local 117 volunteer organizers.   To learn more about the Teamsters Local 117 organizing program, contact the Local 117 Organizing Department at 206-441-4860.





February 08, 2010

Member Login
Username:

Password:


Not registered yet?
Click Here to sign-up.

Forgot Your Login?
Local 117 News Spots

 Disaster relief for Haiti: Donate here.

Take action on health care! 

Community Sponsorships: Local 117 Accepting Applications!

117 Layoff Survival Guide

Volunteer Opportunity in Federal Way with Sound Alliance

Pontiac Vibe: For Sale

Connect with Local 117

 

Contact Congress!
 Enter Zip code:
 
Site Search
Site Map
RSS Feeds
Visit Unions-America.com!
 Top of Page © Copyright 2010, Teamsters Local 117, All Rights Reserved.
Powered By UnionActive™
Hide the Right Hand Column