Local 25 Fights for Casinos in Massachusetts - Teamsters Local 25

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U.S. Labor Secretary
Pays Surprise Visit to Local 25
In mid-January, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis paid a surprise visit to
Local 25 and made an impromptu speech to members.
“We were blown away by Secretary Solis’ surprise visit,” said Sean M.
O’Brien, Local 25 President, who was sworn in for his second term shortly
after Solis’ visit. “It was an honor and a thrill to have Secretary Solis
come by.”
Solis was in Boston to campaign on behalf of state Attorney General
Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate.
Solis was driving by and saw Teamsters outside the Local 25 union hall.
She told her Secret Service driver to pull over. Solis then called on O’Brien,
who at first thought his secretary was joking about Solis being there.
“She said she wanted to stop and say hello because her father was a 25-
year Teamster, and because she saw Teamsters gathered outside,” O’Brien
said. The members were arriving for Local 25’s monthly meeting.
Solis was unable to speak during the meeting, but she did speak with some members who arrived early.
“She talked about how proud she was that her dad was a Teamster, and talked about what the union has
done to improve lives,” O’Brien said.
For O’Brien, an extraordinary day became even more memorable. After meeting with the Labor
Secretary, O’Brien’s father, a 49-year Teamster, administered the oath for his son’s second term.
14 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2010 | www.teamsterslocal25.com