Dear Member:

Thirty-five rank-and-file Teamsters from industries throughout Local 688's jurisdiction attended our rank-and-file training on Saturday, June 2. It was a great day!

Here's a peak of their day:

1. Continental Breakfast (8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
   Take time to relax with fellow members before classes begin. Coffee, juice, pastries and bagels will be provided. Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Teamsters President Jim Kabell will begin the day with a discussion on how active members can make a difference in their union.



2. Steward Training 101: A Complete Toolbox (9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.)
   Brian Spector--Spector, Wolfe & McLaughlin, L.L.C.
   Brian will discuss the foundation of your work as steward: handling and writing grievances, working with members and management, understanding arbitration process and interpreting contract language. This section includes group exercises where teams will work together to solve on-the-job problems.



3. Family Medical Leave Act: How it Impacts Your Workplace (11:30: a.m.–12:00 p.m.)
   Sherrie Schroder--Hammond, Shinners, Turcotte, Larrew & Young P.C.
   Sherrie will provide an overview of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides employees with legal protection for unpaid leave from work. She will discuss how FMLA can intersect with contract language and workplace policies.



4. Lunch (12:00 p.m. –12:30 p.m.)



5. Workers' Compensation: Protecting Your Rights at Work (12:30p.m.–1:15 p.m.)
   Gary Wolfe--Spector, Wolfe & McLaughlin, L.L.C
   Getting hurt on the job is serious business. Lost wages and benefits and rising medical bills can be overwhelming. The Missouri Legislature enacted Workers' Compensation Law to help workers deal with on-the-job injuries, but the bureaucratic red tape can be confusing. Gary helps members protect their rights.



6. Breakout Sessions (1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.)
   Organizing to Win: How Members Can Organize
   Eddie Caumiant - Service Employees Local Union 1 Organizer
   Teamsters Local 688 is making organizing a priority through strategic targeting and getting members involved. It's every member's responsibility because it is the best way to grow our bargaining power. Learn how you can be a member organizer.
   
   Grassroots Politics: How Teamsters Can Change the Political Landscape
   Jim Kabell - President of Missouri Kansas Nebraska Conference of Teamsters
   Local 688 members are leaders in the communities throughout Missouri and Illinois - nine serve either local and/or state governments as elected officials. Teamsters Local 688 spearheaded an IBT effort to elect more members to office because it believes being active in politics and the community helps extend Teamster strength beyond the workplace, helping shape communities and public policy decisions that affect families. Jim will focus on how members can make a difference through politics.

Let us know at czweifel@teamsterslocal688.com if you are interested in attending a future class. Local 688's Research and Education Director Clint Zweifel has already begun planning the next steward education program and we will hold it earlier than usual if there is member demand.

Since being appointed and elected Secretary-Treasurer, I've been working with your Executive Board to build a vision and strategic plan that will expand Local 688's role in helping families for generations to come. The centerpiece of that vision and plan is you-an active member who is the face of our great union. That's why we designed these classes to specifically focus on how you as an individual can make a difference in your Teamsters union-in the workplace, in reaching out to non-union workers and in politics. We want you to be exposed to every aspect of what it takes to move our union forward, choose an area and get involved. Let us know how we can help make that happen for you.

Mike Goebel
Secretary-Treasurer

P.S. Please thank the following members who gave up a Saturday to build their union leadership skills!

Name	Company
Curt Adams	Pepsi Americas
Franklin Bobbitt	Loy Lange
Angela Carter	UPS
Steve Casey	UPS and Trustee
Dan Chapman	Schnucks
Lura Cooksey	KV Pharmaceutical
Dan Coppledge	UPS
John Cusumano	Truesdale Packing Company
Michele DeShay	Gate Gourmet
Christine Eilerman	Meridian Medical
Steve Fling	Coca Cola
Lee Gonzalas	Loy Lange
Carmenlita Green-Harris	New World Pasta
Michael Harbaugh	Coca Cola
Fred Helferstay	Glazer Midwest
Chris Hill	Coca Cola
Peter Kaufman	Coca Cola
John Kayser, Jr.	Schnucks
Andrew Kozuszek	Meridian Medical
Jay Krueger	Roadway
Carolyn Mathews	UPS
Oscar McHughes	UPS
Matt Meinert	UPS
Steve Mueller	Coca Cola and Trustee
Bob Ninness	Glazer Midwest
Merrie Quann	UPS
David Rose	Coca Cola
Kimberly Shatto	Teamsters Local 682
Douglas Short	Pepsi America
John Trueblood	Schnucks
Tommy Vickers	Bohn & Dawson
Scott Weiss	Loy Lange
Julie Wilimeck	Yellow Freight
Dana Woltering	UPS
Jeanette Woods	UPS