Officers, Directors Across Seven Local Unions Work to Empower Minorities

President Hector Hernandez and the Executive Board of the Chicago Teamsters Hispanic Caucus were re-elected by acclamation to another three-year term on March 18, 2017.

Hernandez, who also serves as a Trustee of Teamsters Local 700, has been a Teamster for roughly 20 years. The 11-person board of the Chicago chapter of the Teamsters National Hispanic Caucus works year-round to increase participation among minority members. Political volunteer initiatives, get-out-the-vote campaigns and community-based programs like the annual Chicago Fire Soccer Night have defined the group’s mobilization efforts in recent years.

“For three full terms, the Hispanic Caucus’ Executive Board has not wavered from our goal to bring the Teamsters Hispanic community together with more members across Illinois and northwest Indiana,” said Hernandez. “By partnering with Teamsters Joint Council 25, Local 700 and other affiliates, we will continue to fight for workers’ rights and build camaraderie from within to strengthen our union for the next generation.”

The Hispanic Caucus’ Executive Board was elected by white ballot without opposition following a formal nominations meeting at the Local 700 union hall on March 18. The current term will expire on March 17, 2020.

In addition to President Hernandez, the full board includes Executive Vice President Michael Ramirez of Teamsters Local 710; Secretary-Treasurer Hernan Gomez of Teamsters Local 781; Recording Secretary Marcos Salgado of Teamsters Local 705; First Vice President Wilson Vazquez of Local 700; Second Vice President Juanita Aguilar of Local 700; Trustees Jesse Miranda of Teamsters Local 703, Alexander Ramirez of Local 743 and Denise Alcantar and Hector Tellado of Local 700; and Executive Director Benji Perez of Local 700.

The caucus’ Board of Directors includes 11 additional representatives from Teamster affiliates across Illinois who volunteer to serve the membership. The board includes George Sanchez, Facion Bruno, Gregory Ortiz, Marquette Dunn and Sam Caballero of Local 700, as well as Anthony Carioscia of Local 703 and Charles Castaneda of Teamsters Local 727.

Altogether, the caucus’ leadership represents seven of the Joint Council’s 26 Illinois and Indiana affiliated local unions.

“Joint Council 25 couldn’t be prouder of the work being done by the Hispanic Caucus to better represent Teamster members,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “With so many local union affiliates coming together to embrace and empower minority workers, our union’s diverse and influential Hispanic community will be in good hands for years to come.”

Teamsters Joint Council 25 is America’s premier labor union for Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana.