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Teamsters Call on CEOs Of Six Companies To Denounce Anti-Union Tactics Used By Compass Trans.
(SAN FRANCISCO) – In a letter to the CEOs of six East Bay-area companies, Rome Aloise, International Vice President and President of Teamsters Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif., called on the executives to denounce alleged assertions made by management at Compass Transportation to its drivers that the six companies would likely end their service agreement with them if they voted for a union.
Compass Transportation has service agreements with Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga, Genentech and Amtrak. The majority of the 120 full-time and part-time drivers signed authorization cards for representation by Local 853 and will vote in a National Labor Relations Board election on Feb. 27.
“Byron O’Connell is the Vice President and Operations Manager for Compass Transportation. He has been, along with hired union busters, inflicting an intense propaganda campaign against the drivers’ desire to seek representation,” Aloise said in a letter dated Feb. 16. “At a mandatory meeting held last week, Mr. O’Connell stated, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘Our clients, these six companies, do not want you to have a union and would probably get rid of Compass if you have a union, and therefore you could all be unemployed, so you see, it is in your best interests to vote no!’”
Compass Transportation drivers are forced to work and be present for as long as 12 to 16 hours a day, but are only paid for eight. Most drivers can’t afford to live anywhere near where they work, and the extra hours keep them from their families. Many of the companies have issued media statements supporting the drivers’ right to be represented by a union.
“I call on the CEOs of Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga, Genentech and Amtrak to publically denounce the reported statement made by Mr. O’Connell to the workers and voice their support for the Compass drivers’ right to vote for a union,” Aloise said.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.