INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES’ UNION

LOCAL 320
STATE OF OUR UNION VOL. I - ISSUE 3

STATE OF OUR UNION

Dear Teamster: More than 100 union members and their supporters con-
verged on the Minneapolis Hilton to protest the event and
picket outside the hotel.
I’m here to report that the state of our Union is strong
— TEAMSTER STRONG! We continue to organize and “Minneapolis is a union town and Minnesota is a union state,
mobolize post Janus v. AFSCME and we don’t shy away I said. “We’re here to keep it that way!”
from a fight!
The pickets were the length of a city block stretching from
Center of the American Experiment Celebration of Janus v. one end of the hotel to the other. Pickets were chanting; Who
AFSCME with Mark Janus are we? Union!” and “What’s disgusting?
Union busting!”
Teamsters Local 320 set up an infor- ATU Local 1005 President Ryan Timlin
mational picket to protest the Center
also addressed the group and how every
of the American Experiment’s Cele-
right that workers enjoy today was fought
bration of Janus v. AFSCME featuring
for by union workers of the past.
Mark Janus and Rebecca Friedrichs.
Jasmine Laducer-Kitto from SEIU
The Center of the American Experi-
Healthcare described how the Center of
ment is a right-wing think tank in
the American Experiment has attacked
Minnesota that was set up by the
professional caregivers who are union by
Koch brothers to undermine workers’
pursuing frivolous lawsuits for decer-
rights and retirement security.
tification and using misinformation to
confuse and frustrate workers.
Mark Janus was the plaintiff in the
major federal lawsuit, Janus v. AFSC- Brian Aldes at Janus v. AFSCME Picket Hilton employees who are union mem-
ME, where the United States Supreme
bers wore buttons while working the event that
Court effectively ended the right of
read “Union Proud”.
public sector labor unions to charge “fair share,” or agency fees to
non-members for the cost of representation and contract adminis-
I ended the picket by reminding the picketers the importance
tration, but unions must continue to represent non-members under
of the upcoming election.
their collective bargaining agreements.
“Groups like the Center of the American Experiment are
Rebecca Friedrichs was the plaintiff in the failed federal lawsuit,
targeting working men and women,” I said. “The Janus deci-
Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, which attempted to
sion is just one of many attacks that these anti-union groups
produce the same result as Janus v. AFSCME. Friedrichs is now
are pushing. The most important thing to do now is to vote
hawking her book, Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and
on November 6 for Tim Walz for governor! Like they say, it’s
National Teachers’ Unions.
WALZ or WISCONSIN! Let’s chose Walz in November!”

Continued on page 2
 OFFICERS AND STAFF
Brian Aldes
Secretary Treasurer and Building a Mighty Army of Teamsters “The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was
Principal Officer Local 320 Member-Organizers not formed in response to legal framework, but
Sami Gabriel in response to a demand, says Thiele”. Organizing
President/Business Agent was necessary then, and it is now. For every mil-
Curt Swenson The second week of August, Minneapolis played lennial with a master’s degree working three ser-
Vice President/Business Agent host to the International Brotherhood of Team-
Craig Johnson vice industry jobs, for every older worker putting
Recording Secretary/
sters (IBT) Organizing Division’s training. off retirement year after year, and for everyone
Business Agent caught in between in stagnant wages and rising
Marcia (Marty) Lamb Hundreds of Teamster organizers from all over inflation, there is a need to organize. And we will
Trustee, St. Paul ISD 625 the country met to share stories, techniques and
Richard Wheeler
never stop organizing, because everyone knows
to sharpen their organizing skills. Seizing this that Teamsters get it done.”
Trustee, MSUAASF
Alston Dutchin rare opportunity, Local 320 sent staff and nine
Trustee, U of M member-organizers to the three-day event to learn On the last day of the training, Teamsters held a
strategies from some of the best professional orga- march from the IDS building to the Hennepin
Local 320 Business Agents nizers in the country. County Government Center in support of workers’
Hannah Benardson
Mike Horton rights. We were joined by U.S. Senator Tina Smith
Josh Loahr
The training was divided into beginner and and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. We heard
Roger Meunier advanced classes, giving participants an oppor- testimony on the importance of labor unions from
Terry Neuberger tunity to learn new things. Whether it was their
Vance Rolfzen five Teamster members, including Taylor Harrison
Erik Skoog
first training or from Public Defense
had they been and Taprika Nor-
Communications | Lobbyist working with the vell from Hennepin
Assistant Business Agent union for years, County, both power-
Gus Froemke attendees had ful local 320 women.
their choice of
Organizer | Business Agent a wide selection
Claire Thiele Several Local 320
of workshops member-organizers
Support Staff and seminars. attended the training
Susan Bastian Topics included: along with Har-
Katie Glaser digital tools rison and Norvell.
Ron Phillips
Suzanne Slawson
like Facebook Other members who
Joni Spaulding and YouTube in attended are as fol-
Kristi Ziegler an organizing lows: Brett Ohnstad,
campaign; select- Ramsey County;
Minneapolis, MN ing organizing Sara Parcells, UMN;
Local Union Office targets; under-
8:00am - 4:00pm Amy Perusse, Hen-
standing laws Local 320 at IBT Organizing Training in Minneapolis
nepin County; Dallas
P: 612-378-8700
F: 612- 331-8948 that relate to organiz- Robertson, SPPS; Blake
1-800-637-5430 ing; and of course Romenesko, UMD; Jessie Swedberg, Moorhead
Organizing 101. State; and Mary Tehven, SPPS.
Online
www.teamsterslocal320.org
I served on a panel about organizing internally in a Vote to Keep Our Union Strong
Email post Janus environment, sharing the Local Union’s
local320@teamsterslocal320.org techniques with the hope of strengthening other
There’s only one clear choice for Governor of
local unions facing similar hurdles. Once again,
Minnesota, and that’s Tim Walz. He will protect
our internal organizing program is exemplary and
our collective bargaining rights and preserve our
nationally recognized by the IBT.
union. Please understand that in Iowa and Wis-
consin public workers lost their union rights and
As part of the host committee, Local 320 played an
may never have them fully restored. What happens
active role throughout the training. Our staff orga-
at the ballot box will change our lives forever.
nizer, Claire Thiele, was extremely honored to ad-
dress the opening plenary, sharing her experience
as a millennial woman in the labor movement. In solidarity, Secretary Treasurer
Brian Aldes & Principal Officer
Published by
Teamsters Local 320
3001 University Ave SE #500
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Page 2
 STATE OF OUR UNION
PAGE 1 & 2
TEAMSTER POLITICAL ACTION 2018
TEAMSTER POLITICAL
ACTION 2018
PAGE 3

TEAMSTERS SHOOT
FOR A CURE
PAGE 4

TEAMSTERS NATIONAL Yvette Marthaler Anne Morcotte Kevin Fogarty

BLACK CAUCUS
PAGE 4 This year, Teamsters Local 320 and its mem- Prior to driving bus for over the last year, Fogarty
bership have gone all out for DRIVE endorsed was a Teamsters Local 120 member at Lakeville
MNTLEL PUBLIC
candidates including becoming candidates Motor Express (LME, Inc.) for 34 years before it
SAFETY DISPATCHER
TRAINING themselves! went out of business. Currently, Kevin Fogarty is
PAGE 5 running to be the next Minnesota State Represen-
Yvette Marthaler is a proud Teamster and a tative from District 38A (Centerville, Circle Pines,
SPPS REFERENDUM member of Local 320 at Rice County Social Lino Lakes, and Hugo).
PAGE 5 Services. She is running to be the next Minnesota
State Representative from District 24B (Faribault, Local 320 is taking the fight to win the November
Claremont, and Ellendale). elections for DRIVE endorsed candidates on the
road and to worksites. On Monday, October 22
Anne Marcotte has been a member of Local 320 Teamsters Local 320 will embark on a caravan
as an assistant public defender for 18 years. She is from Thief River Falls to Wabasha meeting with
running for re-election for Aitkin County Com- hundreds of Teamsters. We are also working full
missioner, District Five. Commissioner Marcotte time on worksite visits and making phone calls to
was elected in 2010 and in 2014. union members to get out the vote!

Kevin Fogarty has been driving bus for Forest To get involved with Local 320’s GOTV effort
Lake Schools as a proud Local 320 member. please visit our Events Calendar at
www.TeamstersLocal320.org/calendar
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/team-
sterslocal320

TWITTER
www.twitter.com/IBT_320

Local 320 members from the Board of Public Defense and Mankato State making phone calls for Tim Walz for Governor

The November election promises to be the most important

election for Local 320 members. The governors of both Iowa and
Wisconsin decimated public employee union rights.

We cannot allow it to happen in Minnesota. We must be proactive.

Vote Tim Walz for Minnesota Governor and protect our rights!

Please review the DRIVE Endorsed candidates: Congressman Tim Walz addressing
www.TeamstersJC32.org/DriveEndorsedCandidates Minnesota Teamsters

Page 3
 In 2018, Teamsters Local
320 joined with the United
Food and Commercial
Workers Union (UFCW) as
sponsors for a clay shoot in
Minnesota for the Leuke-
mia & Lymphoma Society.

Since 2003, Shoot For A

Cure has raised over 3.8
million dollars for the
Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society, thrown over
2,000,000 targets, and in-
troduced more than 12,600
new shooters to the fun
and excitement of sporting
clays shooting.

“I think it’s great that Min-

nesota’s labor unions are
teaming up to raise money
for such an important
Three Teamsters from Le Sueur County participated in the
cause,” says Brian Aldes, Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters
clays shoot on Tuesday, August 21, 2018: Le Sueur County
Local 320. “We were happy to send Local 320 members to
Sheriff ’s Deputy Austin Buss, and Le Sueur County Correc-
the clays shoot!”
tional Officers Mike Thelemann and Nicholas Cesafsky.

LOCAL 320 SENDS DELEGATION TO

TNBC IN HOUSTON, TX

Teamsters Local 320 sent a delegation to the Teamsters

National Black Caucus Conference in Houston in Aug-
ust. The delegation included Dakota County Corr-
ectional Officer Russel Cartier, Hennepin County Sec-
urity Officer Taprika Norvell, and Local 320 Trustee
Alston Dutchin from the University of Minnesota.

Taprika was amazed as she learned about the Teamsters’

legacy for racial equality and justice.

“Meeting other African American Teamsters from all

over the country and hearing about the vast history of
of the Teamsters was incredible,” says Norvell. “The
Teamsters helped lead the fight for Civil Rights.”
Local 320 members Russel Cartier, Taprika Norvell, and Alston Dutchin
Among other events and workshops, the Local 320
delegation met with the Mayor of Houston.

Page 4
 On October 4, 2018 the Minnesota Teamsters Law
Enforcement League (MNTLEL) coordinated a Public
Safety Telecommunicator Crisis training in conjunction
with the Association of Public-Safety Communications
Officials (APCO) at the Scott County Government Cen-
ter. Approximately 27 public safety telecommunicators
participated in the training from Local 320 and Team-
sters Local 238 of Iowa. The attendees appreciated the
trainings as they rarely receive any special training in
the course of their duties.
The training built on the skills and abilities inherent in
basic telecommunicator training programs to educate
the public safety communications professional on the
most effective way to receive and process calls involving
crisis situations.
“I personally found the hostage negotiations portion of
the training most beneficial,” says Teamsters Local 320
member Jessica Harlin from Scott County. “The instruc-
tor’s crisis experience was so helpful to me.”

VOTE YES FOR SAINT PAUL KIDS!

Teamsters Local 320 joined with the St. Paul Federation of

Teachers on September 22 for a rally at Johnson Senior
High to kick-off a referendum campaign for St. Paul Public
Schools (SPPS). The Saint Paul Public District has been
forced to cut more than $50 million from its budget in the
past three years and the budget cuts must end.

The rally was in support of an operating levy increase to

enable SPPS to invest more in our schools and limit
Brian Aldes with Local 320 Members and St. Paul Teachers at Rally
additional budget cuts. The referendum will be on the ballot
this November for SPPS voters. A yes vote will maintain the current operating levy and provide an additional
$475 per student. Federal, state, and local funding is not keeping pace with inflation or the educational needs of
our students. Unfunded state and federal mandates continue to divert funds from classrooms and harm students,
faculty, and staff.

Page 5
 Our professional counselors
The Teamsters Service Bureau provides FREE
can help you with:
CONFIDENTIAL services for you and your family.
• Emotional Concerns
We can assist you with balancing and managing many
• Financial Problems
of life’s challenges.
• Family/Marriage Issues

• Chemical Dependency
Remember... Problems and stress can and do happen!
• Stress/Anxiety and
Call the Service Bureau today. We’re here to help!
Depression
612-676-3700 (or 24-hour toll free 1-800-979-9725)
• Legal Concerns

Page 6