Steve Konopa is the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 305 and serves as the chair of the Executive Board. He is serving his second term as Secretary-Treasurer, while previously holding two consecutive terms as the Local 305 President. His duties include administering, operating and managing the local finances, ensuring that the membership does not have to worry about their family’s livelihood and protection on the job. He also serves as a Trustee on the Teamsters Healthcare Trust. Secretary-Treasurer Konopa, in addition, is a Trustee on the Joint Council 37 Executive Board and serves as the Joint Council Director of Legislative Affairs.
He takes his role seriously, and he will be the first one to tell you that managing a local, being responsible for over 4,000 members, is a responsibility that needs to be handled with integrity, honesty and the utmost priority in the absolute highest regard. You really need to care and understand what it means to be in a union. He is a third-generation Union member, and he remembers what his dad taught him, “You must fight and be willing to lose your job in order to save and improve it, or it’s not worth a damn”!
As Local 305 President and Union Representative, David Schmidt assists the Secretary-Treasurer in the day-to-day operations of Local 305, in contract negotiations, Business Agent training and oversees all meetings of the Union, along with many other duties.
David has served as the Representative for the Solid Waste Industry in the Tri-County area and the Movie and Theatrical Industry since 2015. David also serves in a key role as Union Trustee for the Oregon Teamsters Employer Trust (OTET) since 2016. Additionally, since 2023, David has acted as a Director on the committee for the Portland Teamsters Building.
David is a 36-year Teamster who began his career in 1990 working for Pride Disposal in Sherwood, Oregon after serving his four (4) year term in the US Army as a motor transport operator. He was a shop steward for many years before becoming a Local 305 Union Representative.
David believes continuing to build strong Teamster contracts is the foundation for our members and their families, so they will be well taken care of and feel secure going into the future. He also believes it is such a great honor and privilege to represent our Local 305 membership.
