July 10, 2008

On June 21, Local 745 in Dallas hosted a day-long stewards’ training program that was coordinated by the Teamsters Training & Development Department. Brent Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 745, welcomed the stewards and stressed the importance of the theme, “A Strong Legacy and A Strong Future.”

“Stewards have always made a difference in this union throughout our history,” Taylor said. “Local 745 stewards are active, educated and responsive to the members. You will help keep this union strong.”

Approximately 200 stewards participated in the program, which focused on effective contract enforcement, strategies and skills to increase membership participation, Central States Health and Welfare,  pension updates, DRIVE, Teamster legislative initiatives and Texas workers compensation information.

The workshops were facilitated by Teamsters Training & Development Coordinators Iliana Flores and Myron Sharp, Department of Field Action's Mark Shumar, Central States Representative Mike Coomey, and Kym Grant from the Doctors Guild, facilitated workshops.

The keynote speaker, Tyson Johnson, International Vice President of the Southern Region and former principal officer of Local 745, drove home the importance of registering and voting in the upcoming November election.

“When we exercise our rights at the ballot box, we as Teamsters can collectively elect anyone to any office,” Johnson said. “This election is about pocketbook issues: jobs, the economy and the future of our kids and grandkids. We need to use the voting booth to make changes and make a difference.”