School-To-Work Presented At Teamsters National Black Caucus Conference

Teamsters Education Coordinator James Beeharilal and Teamsters Local 25 Education and Training Director Stephen Sullivan recently conducted school-to-career workshops at the Teamsters National Black Caucus annual conference held in Jackson, Mississippi.

The first day's workshops focused on training the Teamsters to give presentations to middle and high school students on topics, including workplace rights, Teamster issues and industries, labor law and history. The participants expressed keen interest in the workshops because they felt that very little was done to teach the youth—our  future union members and leaders—about unions.

On the second day, 29 students (accompanied by teacher Eleanor Stewart) of Wingfield High School in Jackson, Mississippi participated in a workshop about unions and workplace rights.  Beeharilal discussed the different types of workers the Teamsters Union represents, and Sullivan coordinated the efforts of Local 25 members Renalda Chambers, Clarence Goodloe and Flo Bailey, who taught the young people about labor and the world of work. Sullivan demonstrated with wooden dowels the strength and power in being united for a common cause versus the weakness of going it alone.

Since more than half of the students were already in the workforce, they were very enthused to learn about workers’ rights. Teamsters International Organizer Lisa Mack, Local 20 Steward Chuck Spruce and Local 769 Business Agent Tyronne Brewster were also on hand to advise the students on career preparation.

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