Teamsters Story Challenge

ENTER THE CHALLENGE

In our time, the word “freedom”, can be loaded with lots of different meanings. There are entities claiming to be able to give it to you, sell it to you, or instruct you on how to get it yourself. However, freedom fundamentally is defined by your ability to think, speak, and act in response to your own beliefs, choices and individual life experiences.

There is no one way to define the word, just like there is no one way to define what it means to be part of union. Through winning strong contracts and improving our workplaces, Teamsters 117 members have unique stories of freedom to share. We want to hear them!

Reflect on how the various benefits, protections, and job improvements have created freedom in your life for you and/or your family. Participate in our story challenge by answering the following question:

Through your experience as a Teamster, how has being part of a union afforded you more freedom in your life?

PRIZES!

1^st place - $1000

2^nd place - $400

3^rd place - $150

Honorable mention and
other awards!

RULES OF ENTRY:

Entries must be between 300 – 500 words. The deadline for submitting stories has been extended to November 1. All entries will be judged blindly by a member-committee. Don’t let not writing since High School or English as a second language stop you from entering the challenge. Everyone is welcome to participate and content will be valued over writing skill level.

All entries may be used for publication by Teamsters 117 or read at union events.

Open to all Teamsters Local 117 members or retirees 18+ years of age residing in the US.

Each participant can submit only one story.

Winners will be notified by December 11, 2017 via letter to the provided address.

The winning story will be read at December Membership Meeting at Tukwila Hall.

HISTORIA DE JOHN

En 2004, a la mayor de mis tres hijas, Anastacia, se le diagnosticó diabetes juvenil. Sólo tenía cinco años. Anastacia era totalmente dependiente de la insulina, lo que requería múltiples inyecciones, pruebas de azúcar en la sangre y supervisión general, todo ello mientras entraba en su primer año de guardería. En ese momento era un padre soltero con custodia completa trabajando en el turno de noche en Servicios de Alimentos de América. Ser parte de unión fue lo que me permitió ganar un salario decente y tener seguridad laboral para cuidar de mi hija. Ahora mi deseo es que todo trabajador tenga el derecho de disfrutar de la libertad que los contratos de lucha unión traen, y lucho por ello todos los días como Secretaria-Tesorera del Teamsters Local 117. La libertad para mí es la capacidad de estar ahí para mi familia.