Teamsters Local 231

Officers & Staff

Secretary-Treasurer

Rich Ewing

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

Rich has a lifelong history with Teamsters Local 231. His father was a proud member of Local 231 working in the freight and moving and storage industries. Rich knows what it is like to grow up in a family of 7 people who were supported on one Teamster income, with wages and benefits that were fought for over decades. Rich started his career as a local 231 member in 1991 at Yellow Freight. He served many years as shop steward and was a trustee on the Local 231 executive Board for several years prior to becoming a Business Agent in 2010. Rich became Local 231 Secretary-Treasurer in September of 2012. He currently serves on the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust as a Trustee and serves on the Joint Council 28 executive board as a Trustee. Rich is the Joint Council 28 Freight Division Chair and Union Co-chair for the Teamsters’ and Employers’ Board of Adjustment. He was also a member of the UPS Joint Council 28 and Western Region Negotiating Committees for the 2018 contract negotiations.

Rich represents: ABF Freight, Peninsula Truck lines, United Parcel Service Bellingham and Burlington, Waste Management and YRC Freight.

President

Jennifer Thompson

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

Jennifer began working at Teamsters Local 231 in 2002 when she was hired as a Dues Clerk and Office Assistant. After 11 years of working in the front office assisting the membership and the staff of the Local Union, Jennifer realized her passion for the Labor movement would be well served in the field, and she was hired into a Business Representative position. Jennifer is committed to doing what she can to improve the working conditions of our membership through negotiating and administering strong contracts, listening effectively and advocating for worker rights. Jennifer was appointed Recording Secretary on the Local 231 Executive Board in April of 2014 and was appointed President in September of 2018.

Jennifer represents: City of Anacortes, B & P vending, City of Bellingham Supervisory and Professional, Coupeville School District, Island County Deputy Prosecutors, Morse Distributers, City of Oak Harbor, Draper Valley Farms, Skagit County PUD and Whatcom County Master Unit. She also assists with UPS.

Recording Secretary

Daron Smith

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

Daron started his career as a Teamster in 1999 serving the citizens of Skagit County as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. He became a shop steward in 2000, where he was a dedicated advocate for his fellow employees; and, in 2011, Daron joined Local 231’s Executive Board where he steadfastly served the members of the Local. He served in both capacities through January of 2014. In February of 2014, Daron joined the staff at Local 231 serving the members of the Local as a Business Representative. He has not looked back since and continues to look forward to the future utilizing his experience and dedication to work hard in serving the members of this great Local Union. In September of 2018 Daron was appointed Recording Secretary on the Executive Board for Teamsters Local 231.

Daron represents: Construction (AGC); (including Haskell, Lakeside and Snelson), Darigold, City of Everson, City of Lynden, Miles Sand and Gravel, Skagit County Courts and Parks, Skagit County Juvenile Corrections, Whatcom County Corrections and Master Unit.

Vice President

Flo Rose-Banks

Currently works at Mount Vernon School District.

Trustee

E. Brian Schols

Currently works at Waste Management.

Trustee

Russell Hayes

Currently works at UPS.

Trustee

Allen Mason

Currently works for Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.

Business Representative

Heather Ewing

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

In 1991 Heather graduated from WWU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1992 Heather became a member of the Teamsters when she started working as a Driver Helper for United Parcel Service. In 1996 she became a member of Teamsters Local 227 as a Utility Driver for Wonder Bread. Shortly after she started at Wonder Bread she was nominated Shop Steward. She served the membership as a Shop Steward for 10 years. In 2006, Heather was laid off from Wonder Bread, and she started a career as a Real Estate agent negotiating contracts for home buyers and sellers. Heather's true passion continued to be fighting for the rights of working men and women, so when she had the opportunity to join Teamsters Local 231 in 2014, as a Business Representative and Political Coordinator, she did not hesitate.

Heather represents: Associated Petroleum Products, Bellingham Cold Storage, Cascade Ambulance, Commercial Cold Storage, EPL feed, City of Ferndale, LTI, Inc, Milky Way, RDS, Reisner, Sanitary Service Company, Vienna Cleaners and Whatcom PUD. Heather is also the Political Coordinator for the Local Union.

Business Representative

Gunnar Birkland

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

Gunnar started his tenure with the Teamsters in 1991 while enrolled at WWU and working as a Local Sorter at UPS. After graduating with a BA in Finance, he became a Package Car Driver. He served the membership as the Shop Steward from 2011-2018. Gunnar was on the UPS Bargaining Committee in 2013 and again in 2018, gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience. He was also a Trustee on the Executive Board of Local 231 from February of 2014 until September 2018 before joining Teamsters Local 231 as a Business Representative.

Gunnar represents: Aramark Uniform Services, Americold Burlington, Americold Lynden, Bellingham School District, Bellingham Technical College, Bimbo Bakeries, City of Blaine, City of Burlington, Ferndale School District Transportation, Town of LaConner, City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon School District Transportation, Northwest Farm Foods and City of Stanwood.

Office Manager/Bookkeeper

Alison Lyddan

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780

Titan Operator

Kelsey Copps

Email:

Phone: 360-734-7780