SPEEA Hosts Annual Leadership Conference and Council Meeting

SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001 leaders gathered in Seattle over the weekend to attend the union’s annual SPEEA Council meeting on Friday and Leadership Conference on Saturday. 

Among the highlights of the weekend were the elections of SPEEA Council Chair, Matthew Joyce (also IFPTE SPEEA Area Vice President), Council Treasurer, Theryl “TJ” Johnson, and Secretary Byron Henderson.  At the convention, the Council also recognized newly seated Council Reps, heard updates and discussed SPEEA and Council Rep business such as re-endorsement of Area Reps and the need for designated alternates. 

At the annual Leadership Conference, Council Reps received training in grievance handling, legislative and labor issues and how to build a stronger network in their district and heard from guest speakers that included David Williams, author of “The William E. Boeing Story: A Gift of Flight,” IFPTE President Matt Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer, Gay Henson.  IFPTE legislative director, Faraz Khan, and organizer, Liz Sparks, also attended and led workshops at the conference.  Former IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer/President, and longtime SPEEA organizing director, Paul Shearon, was also in attendance.

SPEEA Council Chair R Matthew Joyce (Wichita), SPEEA Secretary Byron Henderson (Everett) and SPEEA Treasurer Theryl Johnson (Seattle) were re-elected by their peers to continue serving as Council officers. They are also Council Reps serving their co-workers as union liaisons.