“The group has really designed what their future is going to look like by being involved and sharing in the daily struggles of working class families,” Williams said.

 

In November, Local 117 held a youth leadership summit, bringing together nearly 100 young Teamsters from dozens of industries. The Teamster youth gathered to become active in their union and find out more opportunities for getting involved.

 

Kris Fish, a Local 117 shop steward at Kraft Foods, attended the summit.

 

“It was great to see young people motivated. We are the future of the union and it was fantastic to see everyone engaged in conversations,” Fish said. 

 

The group has developed a 2010 initiative, including a number of different events to allow for member activism.

 

 

Local 117 recently held a Bowl-a-thon event which attracted more than 200 Teamsters of all ages and raised more than $2,000 for the Jeff Alfieri scholarship fund to benefit high school seniors and college students whose parents are Teamster members. The event gave Teamsters all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to socialize for a good cause over strikes and spares.

 

“What was so cool about this event was the investment in the youth,” Williams said. “Young people are mobilizing all over and young Teamsters have the potential to be at the front lines of that.”

 

The group, in keeping with the times, is taking part in social networking via their website, Facebook and Twitter.

 

Although times will always change, Williams believes one of the best parts of the group is seeing the interaction across generations of Teamster members.

 

“It’s neat to see, like at our bowling event, a steward approaching retirement bowling next to a beginning, entry-level worker. It was great to see them communicating with each other over shared work experiences and community involvement,” Williams said. “The senior steward is expecting this young person will be able to carry on the Teamster tradition. There’s a meaningful connection.”