Press Releases
Workers At Selland Auto Transport Vote To Join Teamsters Union
(SEATTLE) – A group of about 240 drivers, owner-operators and shop employees at Selland Auto Transport have voted to join the Teamsters Union in California, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Utah. Ballots were counted today at the National Labor Relations Board in Seattle.
“It feels great to be a Teamster,” said Tim Vires, a driver in Portland, Ore. “Organizing with the Teamsters and negotiating a contract is the only way we can get the company to provide us with what is important and not be able to take it away later.”
“The workers at Selland have made history,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “This victory is historic because it is the first large carhaul organizing victory in decades. The Teamsters have been organizing in freight and now with this carhaul victory at Selland, we are growing our core industries.”
“Organizing is always our priority and growing our carhaul membership in the West is especially important,” said Kevin Moore, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division. “The drivers and mechanics at Selland know that the only way to be treated fairly is to negotiate a strong Teamster contract, and that is what we will achieve.”
Despite the company’s vicious anti-worker, anti-union campaign over the past six months, the workers remained strong and united. The Selland workers are seeking fairness. Right now, Selland workers are getting paid about 70 percent of what they should be receiving in terms of overall compensation—wages and health, welfare and retirement benefits—for carhaul professionals in the Western states. For example, some Selland workers pay more than $600 per month in premiums for health insurance benefits that pale in comparison to coverage provided for comparable Teamster carhaulers with no out-of-pocket premium costs.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.