A Teamster Troublemaker for Fairness

September 6, 2013: A Local 802 Teamster celebrates her 15th year as a groundbreaking Teamster and "troublemaker" for fairness.

The first Teamster woman at her grocery warehouse, Arlena Dean filed a grievance to force her employer to create a locker room for women employees only to be told that she was forbidden to use it.

Management at her Bronx-based grocery warehouse banned Arlena, who considers herself a "proud African-American lesbian Teamster," from using the women's locker room. The bosses ordered Arlena to change in a broom closet across the hall from the men's bathroom instead.

Dean filed a discrimination grievance and launched a support petition. More than 100 co-workers signed in solidarity.

Dean's persistence and solidarity paid off. The company built a new union locker room for all Teamster women employees—gay and straight.

"I've never lived my life in the closet and I wasn't about to change in one," Dean said. "I've put up with a lot of harassment and discrimination. I wasn't going to stop until I got justice."

September marks Dean's 15th year as a proud Teamster.

"I've proven I can do my job as well as anyone else and I just want to be treated equal to everyone else too," Dean said.

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

On the Table in UPS Talks: Ending Article 40 Concessions

Eliminating loopholes in Article 40 is on the table in national contract negotiations and UPS Teamsters who work in UPS’s air operations are ready to close the concessions stand for good.

ABF Teamsters Authorize a Strike

ABF Teamsters have voted by 97.73% to authorize a strike. The contract covering 8,000 Teamsters at ABF expires on June 30.

View More News Posts