Workers at the General Cable manufacturing plant in Des Plaines, Ill., stood together and made their voices heard by voting for representation by Chicago’s Local 727 on August 2.

“These hardworking men and women stood together amid management’s union-busting tactics, and now they will have the representation they fought so hard for,” said John Coli Jr., International Vice President and President of Local 727.

Local 727 representatives soon will begin preparing to negotiate for the new unit’s first collective bargaining agreement. The 70 workers will join their counterparts at plants in DuQuoin, Ill., and Marion, Ind., who already are protected by Teamster contracts with other local unions.

“Everybody was tired of what was going on. We have to look out for ourselves and our families, and we need to stand up for what we want in our workplace. The only way to do that is through collective bargaining,” said Joe Rodriguez, a two-year General Cable employee.

“Lately, it’s like they want us to live here. They are demanding we work long shifts and we don’t have a choice. They don’t care that we have families. The Teamsters can help change that,” said Mateo Torres, who has worked at General Cable for one year.

General Cable, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Highland Heights, Ky., develops, designs, manufactures, markets and distributes copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products. The company has manufacturing plants, distribution centers and sales facilities all over the world.

“This company is a global giant, but our new members did not back down,” Coli said. “They understand the importance of being in the union, and we vow to always represent them with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

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