Teamsters and FutureForce -- Making the Difference

On July 12, 2001, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Education Department hosted six high school students at their national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The students, five of whom attend School Without Walls Senior High School and one who attends Wilson Senior High School, were participating in FutureForce, a Community Services Agency program of the Metropolitan Washington Council. FutureForce is a summer workforce development program that introduces young people to the world of work while they earn a weekly stipend of $250. For three weeks these six students visited several different union worksites and gained hands-on knowledge of union industries.

When the students visited Teamster headquarters, it would be the only International Union they would have a chance to see up close. IBT Education Department staff gave students an overview of labor history, Teamster history and structure and why collective bargaining is so important to secure the rights and dignity of all union members. The students learned about contract negotiations, and participated in mock labor-management negotiations, where they bargained over wages, safety, benefits and job security.

Later, the students had the opportunity to visit Teamsters Local Union No. 96’s worksite, Washington Gas, a utility company in nearby Springfield, Virginia. They saw Teamster members fight an open gas fire, operate heavy trench digging machinery and manufacture components essential to bringing power to the Washington area. They visited the welding shop, tool warehouse and an on-site training facility for meter readers – all while learning about workplace safety.

Once again, the Teamsters Union shared some important lessons with young men and women who will ultimately make an important career choice. This program is one of the many sponsored and supported by the IBT’s Skills For Tomorrow project.

See the Photo Journal produced by FutureForce.

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