Uncategorized
Organizing Roundup
Local 777
Illinois Central School Bus
School bus drivers and monitors at Illinois Central School Bus in Aurora and Montgomery, Ill., have voted by an overwhelming 4-1 margin to join Local 777 in Lyons, Ill. The 92 workers joined together seeking improved safety and working conditions at the nation’s fifth-largest provider of school bus transportation.
“It’s great that we won our union and I’m looking forward to a better life for all of us. We need fair pay, sick time and safety issues to be resolved,” said Belarmino Sagols, a driver.
This is the seventh Illinois Central location to join the Teamsters in recent months. Since April, 673 workers at seven Illinois Central school bus yards have become Teamsters.
“We welcome these hardworking drivers and monitors to the Teamsters and look forward to negotiating a strong contract that honors their service,” said Jim Glimco, President of Local 777.
Local 986
Allegiant Air
Flight dispatchers at Allegiant Air have voted to join Local 986. There are 21 dispatchers in the bargaining unit and the vote was 15-5.
The flight dispatchers at Allegiant, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company, are joining approximately 350 Allegiant pilots who voted to join the Teamsters in August 2012.
“We are excited to have the Teamsters with us to negotiate a strong, fair contract and to make Allegiant more of a career airline for dispatchers,” said Brian Moyer, an Allegiant dispatcher who was active in the organizing effort.
“The Airline Division and Teamsters Local 986 welcome our new brothers and sisters to the Teamster family,” said Clacy Griswold, Airline Division Coordinator of Local 986 and International Representative of the Airline Division.
Local 570
Roesel-Heck
[body]Drivers and warehouse workers with Roesel-Heck Company, Inc. have voted to join Local 570 in Baltimore. The 11 workers united for dignity, respect and better safety on the job. They voted 10-1 in favor of Teamster representation.
“I wanted to join the Teamsters because we have poor treatment and no job security,” said Leonard Bridgeforth, a warehouse worker.
“The employees have shown that they trust Local 570 to get them the dignity, respect, wages and benefits that a union contract can provide,” said Sean Cedenio, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 570.
Roesel-Heck is a regional wholesale distributor of floor coverings for commercial and residential properties.
Local 362
Clean Harbors
Approximately 540 workers of Clean Harbors Industrial Services in Fort McMurray have chosen the Teamsters Union to represent them.
The organizing campaign launched in May by Local 362 had a happy ending when the Alberta Labour Relations Board certified Teamsters following a majority vote in favor of the union.
“The workers made it very clear that they had had enough of their employer’s arbitrary decisions,” said Richard Eichel, President of Teamsters Local 362 in Calgary, Alberta. “They want respect and an end to favoritism. I think that’s a perfectly legitimate request.”
Clean Harbors provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal services for refineries and other industrial companies.
Local 170
First Student
School bus drivers with First Student in Wayland, Mass., have voted overwhelmingly, 13-2, in favor of joining Local 170 in Worchester, Mass. There are 17 drivers in the bargaining unit.
“I’m so excited. There’s a lot of favoritism, and we want to be treated equally and with respect. I can’t tell you how excited we are,” said Maria Abreu, a driver.
“The drivers banded together for all the right things. Collective bargaining with the Teamsters at this company is the wave of the future,” said Michael P. Hogan, Local 170 Secretary-Treasurer. “They wanted a national contract to protect their rights on the job, which is so vital in this economy.”
Local 633
New Hampshire Department of Corrections
Corrections officers and corporals at the New Hampshire Department of Corrections have voted overwhelmingly to join Local 633 in Manchester.
The new Teamster members, seeking a strong voice on the job, work as corrections officers and corporals at state prisons, correctional facilities and transitional units throughout New Hampshire. The 331 officers were previously represented by the New England Police Benevolent Association.
“We welcome these brave men and women into the Teamsters,” said David Laughton, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 633.
“From the beginning, these state employees were motivated to have a more powerful voice in the workplace and the Teamsters will provide that power,” said Roger Travers, Joint Council 10 organizer.