The roof is on fire! Teamster rank-and-file leaders lit up the Seattle Convention Center this Saturday at our annual Shop Steward Seminar and Appreciation day.

Check out seminar photos here!

The day kicked off with a short video presentation followed by John Scearcy, our Union's Secretary-Treasurer, leading hundreds of members in a rousing, interactive, chant-filled plenary presentation that championed our diversity, our collective accomplishments, and our mission:

We build strength and power for all working people to improve lives and lift up our communities. This is our Union!

Much love and gratitude to keynote speaker April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, who brought down the house with her powerful, personal address that highlighted her journey into union activism. We are fortunate to have such strong leadership lifting the voice of workers in Washington State. 

Thanks also to our fantastic break-out session presenters - Illana Flores and Claudia Rowe from the IBT Training and Development Department, Local 117 staff Jill Reese, James Borsum, and Wesley Wilson, and members Becky HaneyNixon, Matt Lim, and Christa Birkland - who facilitated workshops on how to conduct an effective investigation, move members to action, boost turnout for union meetings and events, and more.  

At lunch, Stewards flexed their political muscle by sending over 200 emails to legislators in support of bills that will improve safety for warehouse workers (HB 1762) and protect survivors of domestic violence (HB 1533).

It's not too late to take action on these important bills:

ACT NOW to support and protect workers! 

"Our Shop Stewards are the backbone of this Union," Secretary-Treasurer Scearcy said. "We are grateful for their professionalism, compassion, sacrifice, and service in representing the 17,000 Teamsters of Local 117. They help unite all of us and make our Union strong."