Improving Communication for Teamsters Members

Brothers and Sisters,

Teamster Local Leaders from across North America gathered at the Offices of Joint Council 36 in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 13 and 14, 2010 for an Internal Local Union Communications Course. The training is part of the Teamsters Leadership Academy and is a first ever joint collaboration of the IBT and Teamsters Canada Training and Education Departments.
The participants were welcomed to Vancouver by Stan Hennessey, President of Teamsters Local 31 in Delta, B.C. The TCRC MWED was well represented by President Bill Brehl, VP Ross Terry, Director Prairie Region Gary Doherty and Secretary Treasurer of Local Lodge 167 Gurpreet Saran.

The training centered on communication with membership, but also provided strategies for dealing with the conventional media for internal as well as external communication. However, the bulk of interest and discussion focused on the use of websites and particularly social media such as Facebook, Twitter and the hundreds of other options for direct communication with membership through electronic means.

April Smith of AHA Media and Holly Page of the BCGEU facilitated a lively discussion session regarding the use of these electronic social media to organize and communicate with membership. Bret Caldwell of the IBT also assisted those present to understand the potential of these new communication tools in today’s world. Stephane Lacroix and Brigitte Sottile of Teamsters Canada assisted the participants in understanding the challenges of internal communication and strategies to combat those challenges. Shawn Ellis of the IBT reminded all that print media still has a place in communication internally and externally. Per Bernstein of the IBT ably assisted in the discussions of both print and electronic media.

All participants came away from the training with a fresh outlook with regard to internal as well as external communication and equipped with a new set of tools for dealing with the challenges of proper communication with their membership and others. 
As we proceed into the 21st century, the Teamsters are ensuring that we stay at the forefront of labour with open and direct communication, as well as the development of new strategies for representing our members in a technologically ever changing world.

In solidarity,

Ross Terry
Vice President
TCRCMWED