On January 28, workers at Budget Rent A Car in Baltimore voted in favor of representation by Local 355 by nearly a 2-1 margin. There are 51 customer service representatives and vehicle maintenance workers in the new bargaining unit.

Lack of respect from the company, favoritism and healthcare were the key reasons these workers wanted to unionize. After seeing what their other brothers and sisters, who are also a part of the Avis Budget Group, enjoyed as Teamster members, they knew they needed help from the Teamsters Union, as well.  

The company’s management tried diligently to thwart those efforts with an aggressive union-busting campaign.

“For at least four weeks straight, the company’s managers canvassed the workers one on one and handed out anti-union materials to intimidate the workers and to discourage them from joining the union,” said Ray Greene, Local 355 organizer. “But the vast experience of the workers’ organizing committee members was very instrumental in making this campaign extremely successful.”

“Special congratulations to the union committee on a job well done in keeping the employees together,” said Mark Garey, who is also an organizer for Local 355. “The workers’ endurance was far stronger than the anti-union tactics that the company tried to use.”

“This victory is sweet because this unit has tried two other times to unionize but failed,” Greene said. “And there’s a lot of truth to the saying ‘the third time’s a charm.’”

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