The above montage comes from the Joint Council 7 Political Coordinators Meeting held at Local 70 May 14. Upper left is Assembly Member Alberto Torico, Joint Council President Chuck Mack, D.R.I.V.E. Representative Jack Peasley and far right, Marsi Neuman California Teamsters Public Affairs Council.

Teamster Worksite Coordinators throughout Northern California met the weekends of May 14, 15, 21 and 22. The meetings were unprecedented – the first time ever that rank and file members from every Local Union in NorCal joined Teamster leaders to strategize and build political power. Meetings were held in Oakland , Martinez , San Jose , Sacramento , Modesto and Fresno .

The meetings gave meaning to the new Political Action Program that Teamster Joint Council leadership announced in April. The Program emphasizes member participation in D.R.I.V.E. (the Teamster's Political Action Committee that contributes to candidates and issues), voter registration, member education on issues and rank and file political coordinators at every California worksite.

The turnout exceeded expectations. Hundreds of rank and file coordinators came to the meetings. Joint Council 7 President, Chuck Mack, Joint Council 38 President, James Long, D.R.I.V.E. Representative Jack Peasley and the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council Coordinator Marsi Neuman pictured above laid out the program for the coordinators with a Powerpoint presentation. They made it clear that we can accomplish much more politically and impact the anti-worker agenda coming out of Sacramento and Washington if we're willing to organize internally.

“The key to this program are rank and file worksite coordinators. If members accept the responsibility, we'll have a more engaged, committed and empowered membership;” said Mack at the meeting in Oakland .

Local Union Political Coordinators and Worksite Coordinators received voter registration forms from the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council and registration has already begun.

“There's much more to do;” added Mack. “The election in November will be a challenge. We've got to continue to register and update our members on the issues.”

Flyer distribution has also started and they should be available at every job site. The next Political Coordinators Meetings will be held September 10. The first will be in Oakland at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. , followed by a meeting in Stockton between 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Coordinator for Joint Council 7 – Bob Blanchet and for Joint Council 38 – Jim Tobin.