The 2014 Teamsters Women’s Conference convened Thursday in Chicago, bringing together more than 1,000 Teamsters from throughout North America. The 14th annual gathering kicked off an exciting week of mobilization, solidarity and sisterhood.
“Teamster women are on the move,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa to the audience of Teamsters from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. “You’ve got energy, drive, and direction, and I’m excited about that!”
Becky Strzechowski, Director of the Teamsters Women’s Conference, welcomed the crowd of Teamsters to her hometown, which she referred to as “a strong union town.”
“When Teamster women get together at this conference, we learn from each other, network, hear from magnificent speakers, attend workshops and rally to show our union pride and stand up for workers’ rights,” said Strzechowski, who is the first female president of Teamsters Local 700 in Chicago and an International Vice President. “I’m proud that under the General President’s leadership, we are fighting for equality for women and for all workers.”
The three-day conference is being hosted by Teamsters Joint Council 25, and is supported by the 27 local unions within the Joint Council, which represents more than 100,000 Teamster members.
“Your conference director, Becky Strzechowski, is a great example of what Teamster women do—they fight hard, work hard and succeed,” said John T. Coli, Teamsters Joint Council 25 President, International Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727 in Chicago. “Teamsters work in every industry—driving trucks and making deliveries; enforcing the law; fighting fires; boosting tourism at our hotels, parking garages and convention centers. Teamster women are the face of Chicago.”
Brigitte Sottile (center)
