Did you know that one in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime? Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women. This year, an estimated 182,460 women and 1,990 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network fighting to save lives, empower people and ensure quality care for all. Komen for the Cure is also the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world due to events like the Puget Sound Race for the Cure.

This year’s Puget Sound Race for the Cure started out with a Survivors’ breakfast and ended with a Survivor’s parade that honored those who have survived breast cancer and remembered those who have not. The Teamsters Care Team lead by Captain Diana McDowell participated in the 3.11 mile co-ed walk that started and finished at Qwest Field and took the participants along the scenic Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The Teamster Care Team met up at Krispy Kreme, just south of Qwest Field, to avoid congestion near the event. There were a couple of members delayed by traffic, but joined the team at the starting line. While waiting for our event to start, the 5K co-ed run was just beginning. Joint Council No. 28 Lobbyist Owen Linch said “I’m going to run” and off he went. King 5 News covered the event and had filmed the run. Owen was seen later in the evening on King 5 News running in the event.

It was a wonderful day for the race. Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect! Team members walking included Diana McDowell and Owen Linch - Joint Council No. 28, Steve Parks - Local 117, Toni Keller and Loretta Jacobson - Local 252, Terra Ament, Shirl Irish and Sandi Malley - Local 313, and Evie Gradila, Jason Powell, Zachary Powell and Tyler Powell - Local 763. Other team members not able to participate on race day included: Rachel McKibbin – Local 231, Marla McKibbin - Retired Joint Council No. 29 Office Manager, Jean Savory – Western Conference of Teamsters Pension, Lisa Parks – Local 763, Connie McArthur – Retired 174 member and friend Dawn Smith.

This was the Teamsters Care Team’s fifth race. Our team had an overwhelming amount of support from our friends, family, Local Unions and the International. Our team collected more donations this year than any other year so far. Our team’s total this year so far is $8,210.00 and over the past five years we have raised $29,810.00. The funds raised at the race make education, screening, and treatment support accessible to thousands of women living in our community who would otherwise go untreated.

After the race, Shirl Irish from Local 313 said “the Race for the Cure was an amazing event. I was a first time participant and found it to be an emotional but wonderful experience, knowing that there were so many people willing to donate not only their time, but financial support to such an important cause. I will definitely be involved in this important event for many more years to come.”

A few of the team members went into Qwest Field after the race as first timers. There were booths on the field giving thank you items to participants and doing drawings. One of those drawings was for two “big” pink bicycles. Toni Keller and Loretta Jacobson just happened to enter the drawing. Diana McDowell was a little relieved when the two of them did not win the drawing because there was no way those “big” bicycles would fit in the little car they carpooled in.

The last event was watching the Survivors’ Parade. The Parade is one of the most emotional and inspirational things you will ever see and the team highly recommends staying to witness it. The parade concluded the event which leaves you with an overwhelming amount of pride that you were a part of something so big.

When Toni Keller from Local 252 was asked about the race, she said “the Race For a Cure was well worth the shin splint I got, I don’t think that happened during the 5K walk - it happened when I was trying to keep up with Diana and Loretta in the race to see if Diana’s car got towed from Key Bank. But seriously, participating in the Race’s 5k walk and watching the Survivors march into the stadium was an amazing experience, these women are survivors of Breast Cancer from 1 year to 25 plus years. Some of the Survivors were bald again and I’m hoping the money that was raised this year will help find a cure so they can march in as Survivors for many years to come.”

The challenge now is to grow Teamster participation, both financially and the number of members walking. Let’s participate in 2010!

--All photos by Loretta Jacobson and Diana McDowell

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Report from Houston
By Rachel McKibbin, President
JC-28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus

The 2007 IBT Women’s Conference was held in Houston, Texas on September 6-9th.  Over seven hundred and fifty Teamster Women came to Texas where the first Teamster’s Women’s Conference was held in 1986.  As a member who has attended 6 out of the last 7 conferences I have to say this conference was one of the best! 

The classes educated members on subjects regarding Teamster history, self esteem, time management and fitness to organizing, bargaining and labor laws. 

The General Sessions where highlighted by greetings from General President James P. Hoffa and General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel.  Donna Brazile an American author, educator, and political activist and strategist affiliated with the Democratic Party and the first African-American to direct a major presidential campaign captured us with her enthusiasm and concern about American politics.

Save the date of September 11-14, 2008, to attend the next International Teamsters Women’s Conference in Miami Florida.

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JOIN THE JOINT COUNCIL NO. 28 TEAMSTERS WOMEN’S CAUCUS

The Caucus membership consists of many different people from the Teamster ranks including; Rank and File Members, Local Union Officers, Local Union Staff, Retirees and Spouses of Teamster Members.  Annual membership is only twelve dollar ($12.00 per year).

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP - If you are already a member and have not renewed your JC28TWC membership, now is the time. Please take this opportunity to join as a first-time member or renew your membership to support the JC28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus.     Download the Membership Application here!

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A WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN HER UNION!
WANT TO BEAT THE WAGE GAP? – JOIN A UNION!

By Marla McKibbin, JC 28 Retiree
The wage gap is a statistical indicator often used as an index of the status of women’s earnings relative to men’s. The wage gap is expressed as a percentage and figures just released show that the difference between women’s and men’s earnings have not changed--about 77 cents for every dollar.

In King County the figures are worse. Men’s median salaries increased from about $52,000 to about $55,000, while women’s salaries remained constant at about $41,000, according to the Census Bureau. In other words, women only earned 74 cents for every dollar a man earned and lost ground in closing the wage gap.

The Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, making it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who hold the same job and do the same work. By 2004, that wage rate had improved by less than half a penny a year, with minority women faring the worst. The wage gap between women and men cuts across a wide spectrum of occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2004 female physicians and surgeons earned 52.2% of the median weekly wages of male physicians, and women in sales occupations earned just 62.1% of men’s wages in equivalent positions.

A National Women’s Law Center study found that if working women earned the same as men (those who work the same number of hours; have the same education; age and union status; and live in the same region of the country) their annual family incomes would rise by $4,000 and poverty rates would be cut in half.

As a Teamster member we have a factor on our side that most workers don’t have. With a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by a LABOR UNION, women and minorities can be assured that they will be earning the same wages and have the same health and pension benefits as all other employees within the same classification.

The government hasn’t made it happen; passing a federal law (The Equal Pay Act) didn’t work and Big Business executives only want to line their pockets. So who does look out for the workers? LABOR UNIONS.

Labor Unions may just be the last stand in making an equal playing field for women and minorities at work. As Teamster members we must continue to participate in the Union to keep it strong and also spread the word to non-union workers and so that we can close that wage gap for good.

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The vote results for the position of President are as follows:  Fifty-six (56) ballots were returned and one (1) was voided; Rachel McKibbin received 47 votes and Katharine Wren received 08 votes.  Below is a list of the newly elected JC28-TWC Executive Board; the term of office will be for two (2) years and commence January 01, 2008.

• President, Rachel McKibbin
• East Vice President, Mary Faragher
• Western Vice President, Mary Stuart-Fairburn
• Secretary-Treasurer, Paula Bennett
• Recording Secretary, Evie Gradilla
• Trustee, Annette Cobb
• Trustee, Norma Wier

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2008 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure
The 15th annual Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure was Saturday, June 21st.  The Teamsters Care Team raised $6,745.00, bringing our total to over $21,600 in the four years of participation.

No one should have to decide whether to continue breast cancer treatment or to pay rent; no one should have to delay getting a mammogram because they can't afford it.  The money raised in the Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure ensures that local women aren't forced to make these impossible choices.

Thank you for your continued support of our team.  Diana McDowell, Co-Captain, Mary Stuart-Fairburn, Co Captain, and Rachel McKibbin, JC-28 TWC President.

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2007 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure
On Saturday, June 16th, participants in Seattle, Washington came together to raise over $1.5 million to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease and we are proud to report that the members of Joint Council No. 28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus contributed to this successful endeavor.

This was the third year the JC-28 Women’s Caucus supported the Puget Sound Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by participating in the 2007 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure.

The JC-28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus collected over $5,600 in donations and joined the 20,000 participants who walked through the streets of Seattle on a very early Saturday morning.

“We were thrilled to meet and reminisce with a retired Local 174 member who had volunteered his time to drive one of the foundation trucks.”, said Local 174 Vice President Mary Stuart-Fairburn.

Teamsters were represented at the race by members from Locals 117, 174, 231, 760 and 763. Local 117 member and JC-28 Women’s Caucus Co-Captain Diana McDowell, said; “I can think of no better way to spend my Saturday morning than with my Teamster Sisters and Brothers and to know we are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. It is so inspirational to walk the Survivors of breast cancer and with the families who are walking in memory of a loved one they have lost.”

JC-28 Women’s Caucus President Rachel McKibbin thanked the Local Unions for their generous donations and commended all the members who donated, even those who didn’t actually participate in the walk but “Slept in for the Cure”.

The contributions allow the Foundation to fund cutting edge research to find a cure for breast cancer as well as provide much-needed screening, support, and education services to underserved women in Puget Sound communities. This is another example of Teamsters stepping forward to make certain their fellow members and their communities live secure and prosperous lives.

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2006 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure On June 17th, participants in Seattle, Washington came together to raise over $1.5 million to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease and we are proud to report that the members of Joint Council No. 28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus contributed to this successful endeavor. This was the second year the JC-28 Women’s Caucus supported the Puget Sound Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by participating in the 2006 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure. The JC-28 Teamsters Women’s Caucus collected over $4,500 in donations and joined the 15,000 participants who walked through the streets of Seattle on a very early Saturday morning. We were proud to have breast cancer survivor Patricia Lambert (mother of Teamster Local 763 member Jason Powell) join us with her husband, son and grandson. Teamsters Local 252 member Toni Keller who walked with her daughter, said; “It was a great awesome experience, it was so touching to see the breast cancer survivors acknowledged and walk with us. I would love to do it again.” The contributions allow the Foundation to fund cutting edge research to find a cure for breast cancer as well as provide much-needed screening, support, and education services to underserved women in Puget Sound communities. Another example of Teamsters stepping forward to make certain their fellow members and their communities live secure and prosperous lives. Back to top of page