A case argued before the US Supreme Court this year had the potential to significantly weaken the collective bargaining rights of workers in public sector unions.

Ricardo Espinoza’s entry into politics started with a concern over public education. “I’ve always been a huge advocate for education,” he professes to Teamsters Local 117 Political Coordinator Dustin Lambro as they discussed his campaign in a meeting room at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.

Officer Jerry Wonders is a bit of a legend at DOC. He’s served the citizens of our state for 25 years, 19 at the prison complex in Monroe and another 6 at Coyote Ridge.

The Labor Education Research Association (LERA) held its annual meeting in Minneapolis at the end of May. LERA is an organization where professionals in labor relations can network and share ideas about current developments in the field.

On May 23 and 24, our Union bargaining team met with the State in Olympia to bargain over our 2017-2019 contract for Teamsters at the Department of Corrections.

In a massive display of union solidarity, Teamsters who work at the Darigold processing plants in Seattle and Issaquah, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over the weekend.

Teamsters working at US Foods’ distribution facility in Fife refused to cross the picket line in solidarity with Teamsters in Severn, Md., who began an unfair labor practice strike against the company last month.

Teamsters Local 117 has been on an organizing tear recently. Over the past two years, the local has brought over 900 members into the union.

The recent assault of two officers at the Monroe Correctional Complex is yet another reminder of the sacrifice our state’s correctional employees make to keep all of us safe.

Teamster General President, James R. Hoffa, walked the picket line today with members who work at the US Foods facility in Severn, MD. Teamsters in Maryland have been on strike for almost three weeks.