Teamsters in California recently came out in large numbers to the Joint Council 42 member organizer boot camp. This was the largest boot camp since the program began in 2009, with more than 600 participants overfilling the training room in Covina. The participants came from a number of locals, industries and hometowns, and all were eager and willing to learn how to organize their fellow workers.

Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President, welcomed the group, and was joined in the program by Randy Cammack, International Union Vice President At Large and President of Joint Council 42; Rick Middleton, International Union Vice President for the Western Region; and Al Mixon, International Union Vice President At Large, among a long list of International Union, Joint Council and local union organizers and staff who came together to make this training a success.

“You’re here, you’re enthusiastic and you want to be a part of something,” Hoffa said. “This boot camp is standing room only on a Saturday morning. You have the commitment it takes to organize and a vision for growing the Teamsters Union.”

“Having 600-plus rank-and-file members turn out for the Organizing boot camp bodes well for member-driven organizing in Joint Council 42. Your overwhelming interest and activism typifies the ‘can do’ spirit of the Teamsters,” Cammack said. “Thank you to General President Hoffa for being on hand to greet and energize all of our members to total involvement. It is a real treat for all of us to hear President Hoffa’s strategy for continued organizing success.”

Citing the roles of Teamster member organizers in the recent victory at Continental Airlines, and in surpassing the mark of 26,000 school bus workers organized, Director of Organizing Jeff Farmer said that, “while other unions are retrenching, we are aggressively organizing. In these tough economic times, Teamsters are fighting back – and winning! The best defense is a good offense.”

Education in Organizing

The training included several components to effectively prepare participants for the role of member organizer. Participants learned about:

• The state of Teamster organizing;
• The member organizer boot camp program and its successes;
• How to push back the bosses’ campaign;
• Communicating the Teamster message, in particular, bridging the barriers between union and nonunion workers; and
• Current campaigns and the next steps to getting involved.

“I think every Teamster should learn how to organize and bring hope to others. I think we need to go to every shop or barn and tell all union members about organizing,” said Ramon Sandoval, a driver with ABF Freight and a member of Local 63.

“As a retiree I have time and the desire to contribute and volunteer,” said Laura Cipollari, a Local 986 retiree from UPS. “This seminar made me more open to the importance of one-on-one communication. I also think Teamster youth should be involved; the middle class is counting on them.”

“This seminar gave me the knowledge and the belief in myself to get out and get it done,” said Gerard Nicholas, a driver with Anheuser Busch and a member of Local 896. We need to let others know what Teamsters are about and how we can help everyone.”

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