The TDU Women’s Caucus held a panel discussion, “Becoming a Union Activist…and Helping Others Do It Too!” on March 9, 2024 to celebrate strong Teamster Sisters in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Read our panelists’ stories on how they became active union members.
Anjila Gaudet
Organizer, Local 135
Anjila Gaudet is an organizer at Teamsters Local 135. She became an alternate steward at UPS in Local 89 and was later an alternate steward at Caesar’s Casino in Southern Indiana.
As a member leader, Anjila helped organize casino workers to take on COVID safety – including members of other unions including UNITE HERE, and non-union workers to call on the company to take action to keep workers safe. They won new protections and showed the boss solidarity wins.
As an organizer, Anjila sees the importance of making all members welcome in the union. On the TDU Women’s Caucus panel, Anjila shared the importance of making everyone feel welcome in the union.
“For a lot of people, if you’re not in the category of people being excluded, you might not even know you’re excluding people,” she said. “It might not be intentional, but it’s something we have to learn to change.”
Essence Carlisle
UPS, Local 89
The first time Essence Carlisle, a rank-and-file UPS Teamster activist in Local 89, led a workplace action, it was an accident. Essence was working at Wendy’s. After a customer verbally abused her, Essence walked off the job, not realizing that her entire shift would walk out with her. Management had to run the restaurant for the rest of the day.
When Essence started working at UPS, she got involved in the UPS Contract Campaign and Local 89 Futures Committee, mobilizing members to authorize a strike and win historic contract improvements.
Essence recognized the health and safety committee as a vehicle for member involvement and education. Through the health and safety committee, Essence speaks to new union members about how the union works, identifying their shop stewards, and how to file a grievance. She even carries a binder with settled grievances to share.
“If you go to any local union hall in the country, you’ll see the walls covered in pictures of men,” Essence said on the TDU Women’s Caucus panel. “And I see the impact in my workplace. When I joined the Health Committee, three other women of color joined right after me.”
“Women are often a large demographic of the workplace, but some of the least represented. If we don’t speak up for us, who will?”
Kristi Di Cenzo
Lifespan Hospital, Local 251
Kristi Di Cenzo is a shop steward at Lifespan Hospital in Teamsters Local 251. As a steward, Kristi emphasizes the importance of trying to get everyone involved.
Working with many coworkers for whom English is their second language, Kristi said, “lifting up those voices has been a daily process. But we try to bring new people in and say, hey, this is what you can do, but I also want you to understand that you have a voice too.”
Kristi hopes to organize newer members to understand that they are the future of the union.
Outside of work, Kristi is active in the community, advocating for policies that protect survivors of domestic violence in Rhode Island, and advocates for stronger protections for working women and people of color.
Lynette Dill
UPS, Local 908
Lynette Dill is an UPS inside shop steward in Local 908. When seven managers showed up at her building, Lynette led a dozen members to file harassment grievances. “I handed the company harassment grievances from each person, then followed through on each grievance,” she said.
The next day, the company eliminated the extra supervisors. “Six members went with me to the grievance hearings with the division manager. We settled a dozen harassment grievances and won company compliance.” Lynette took the motto “each one, teach one” to heart. “They got the tools, they learned the process. When we stand up together we can win.”
Women were sorely underrepresented among stewards at her building. But getting involved in TDU allowed her to network with women in different locals to give each other strength. “Until I got involved with TDU, I was always surrounded by all men,” Lynette said. “Through TDU, I was able to connect with another woman in a different local, to work with her and give each other information and strength.”
Nicole Halliday
UPS, Local 439
Nicole Halliday is a UPS feeder driver in Teamsters Local 439.
Nicole founded her local’s Women’s Committee last year to help fundraise to send women from her local to the IBT Women’s Conference.
Since then, the Women’s Committee has contributed to local community efforts, including a holiday toy drive. But most importantly, the Women’s Committee is a space for women in a predominantly male industry to come together and offer each other support.
Through the Women’s Committee, Nicole has been able to help develop new union activists to feel confident as leaders.
“I’ve spent years being loud, and others have tried to push me down,” Nicole said — but she never gave up, and she continued to empower her quieter Teamster sisters to speak up and step up.
Get Involved in the TDU Women's Caucus
The TDU Women’s Caucus meets in person annually at the TDU Convention. To learn more about the TDU Women’s Caucus or get advice from an organizer about an issue in your workplace, contact us!