The administrating firm for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund, ISTS,
has opened up the application system for the 2019 academic and
vocational/training scholarships. The application system is completely on-line and can be reached through the Fund’s website: www.jrhmsf.org

The Fund will be awarding academic scholarships to high school seniors who are planning to attend a four-year college or university and who are the sons, daughters or financial dependents of Teamster members. The academic awards range from $1,000 to $10,000.

The Fund is also accepting applications for Training and Vocational Program scholarships. These range from $500 to $2,000 and will be awarded to the sons, daughters or financial dependents of Teamster members who plan to attend an accredited training or vocational non-baccalaureate program at a community college or other training institution. Programs must be related to a Teamster-represented industry, class or craft. (Exact application procedures are outlined in the application on our website, www.jrhmsf.org )
ISTS will soon be sending out posters to advertise the scholarship program to every Teamster local union. The poster can also be found on the website. The deadline for all applications is March 31, 2019. If you have additional questions, please see the Fund website at www.jrhmsf.org and view the Frequently Asked Questions section.

Memorandum PDF

Becky Strzechowski Named VP, Keith E. Gleason Joins Board as Trustee
(Chicago) – The Executive Board of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than
100,000 Teamster members across the State of Illinois and northwest Indiana, confirmed Terrence
J. Hancock as President during its Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.
Hancock begins serving effective immediately as the 1 01
h President of the labor organization, which
was founded in Chicago in 1911 and represents 26 Teamster local union affiliates.
“It is an honor and a privilege to represent so many hardworking Teamsters in the City of Chicago,
throughout the State of Illinois and northwest Indiana,” Hancock said. “With the unification of our
Executive Board, Teamsters Joint Council 25 has renewed its complete commitment to providing
unwavering service to our local union affiliates. Organizing is and will continue to be one of our main
focuses, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the rights of working families
across the region.”
The Teamsters Executive Board on Tuesday also unanimously appointed Teamsters Local 700
President Becky Strzechowski as Vice President of the Joint Council, and appointed Teamsters
Local 627 President Keith E. Gleason to fill the position of Trustee on the seven-member board.
The remaining Executive Board members include Secretary-Treasurer Thomas W. Stiede,
Recording Secretary Brian Meidel, and Trustees James T. Glimco and Michael L. Yauger.
Since 2005, Hancock has served as President of Teamsters Local Union No. 731, headquartered in
suburban Burr Ridge, IL. He has served as International Brotherhood of Teamsters Representative
of the Teamsters Construction Division and Solid Waste & Recycling Division since 1999, and has
served on the Joint Council’s Executive Board for 12 years. He initially joined the Teamsters Union
in 1979 as a rank-and-file construction tractor/dump trailer driver.
Teamsters Joint Council 25 is the premier labor organization providing invaluable support and
services to all local union affiliates throughout the State of Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Click here for the official document

Dear Teamsters Local Union No. 731 Member:
To assist the hard working membership of Teamsters Local Union No. 731, our Scholarship Fund
was established in 2007 to provide scholarship benefits on behalf of dependents and
grandchildren planning to enroll or currently enrolled in a post-high school educational program,
such as college, junior college or technical program. Since established, the Teamsters Local 731
Scholarship Fund has quickly grown to over $4,000,000.00 in assets and has awarded fifty-four
(54) scholarships totaling $1,550,000.00.
This extraordinary benefit is available to each IBT Local 731 dependent/grandchild at no cost to
you, the member. Mandatory requirements for the scholarship benefit include maintaining at
least a “B” average while attending classes on a full-time basis or electing to earn at least twelve
(12) credits per semester. You may also apply if you have a dependent/grandchild already
enrolled in such a program who has maintained at least a “B” average. If you have an eligible
dependent/grandchild we encourage you to apply for a Teamsters Local Union No. 731
Scholarship.
The 2017 IBT Local 731 Scholarship Awards are as follows:
■ One (1) award of $15,000.00 per year for up to four (4) years.
■ Two (2) awards of $10,000.00 per year for up to four (4) years.
■ Five (5) awards of $7,500.00 per year for up to four (4) years.
IRS tax rules require that if a grandchild is awarded a scholarship benefit, the value of the
scholarship may be taxable income to the member.
An Official Independent Scholarship Committee consisting of Teachers and Counselors review all
scholarship applications and they select the fortunate recipients.
To request an application or if you have additional questions, kindly visit our website
www.ibt731funds.org “Forms and Notices” or contact the Fund Office at (630) 887-4150 and
request a Scholarship application.
Respectfully,
Board of Trustees

Scholarship Application Form: Click Here

Congratulations to the 2016 Teamsters Local 731 Scholarship Winners!

Recipient of $15,000.00 Per Year For Four (4) Years

Joseph J. Pinakidis, son of John Pinakidis (Meade, Inc)

Recipient of $10,000.00 Per Year For Four (4) Years

Jarod A. Navarro, son of Mr. Antonio Navarro (HLS Wheeling, LLC)

Marissa Hedlund, daughter of Mr. Robert Hedlund (Lindahl Brothers)

Recipient of $7,500.00 Per Year For Four (4) Years

Anthony D. Gayton, son of Mr.Brian A. Gayton (Homewood Scavenger Service, Inc)

Brenda Gomez-Murillo, daughter of Mr. Braulio G. Gomez (Golf Mill Ford)

Alyssa S. Martinez, daughter of Mr. Felix Martinez (Arc Disposal Company)

Rachael M. McDonough, daughter of Mr. Ronald McDonough (Duropave Construction Co)

Antoinette M. Ricchio, daughter of Mr. Ben Ricchio (Orange Crush, LLC)

Click Here for PDF

$1.68 BILLON DOLLAR STATE OF ILLINOIS TRANSPORTATION BILL SIGNED

Governor Pat Quinn signed into law on Tuesday, July 10, $1.68 billion worth of statewide transportation projects that are expected to create roughly 18,400 jobs, according to State Officials.

The projects include improvements to road, rail and transit, like expanding highways and modernizing rail infrastructure. Governor Quinn signed the bill in the Chicago suburb of Bellwood as U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the other Labor Leaders were on hand to witness this historic effort.

The improvements include more than $817 million in new highway projects and nearly $800 million in mass transit and rail improvements in the 2013 fiscal year.

This long anticipated announcement was the next phase of a Capital Projects Program that began in 2009. The legislation, passed by State Lawmakers earlier in the year, authorized the State to borrow the money. Illinois will pay for the projects by selling off bonds.

A much-needed overpass separating trains and vehicles will be constructed in suburban Bellwood where the event was conducted in an effort to elevate heavy congestion. Other projects include adding new lanes to parts of Illinois Route 13 in the southern half of the state, Route 59 in northeastern Illinois and Route 71 in north-central Illinois.

It was also announced that Chicago will benefit from nearly $94 million in discretionary state funding for transportation projects including resurfacing arterial streets; a $22.5 million overhaul of a Chicago River bridge; and $3 million in engineering costs for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Lake Shore Drive.

Teamsters Local 731 President Terrence J. Hancock stated that “this next phase of Governor Quinn’s historic Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program, will create good jobs, strengthen our transportation system and support economic growth across all of Illinois”.

Please watch the video, share it, post it online and on Facebook, and help spread the word that working men and women will continue to fight for the rights we’ve earned.