By a more than three-to-one margin, drivers at Stericycle’s Haw River, N.C. facility voted late last week to join Teamsters Local 391 so they can better fight for respect and dignity on the job.

Moses Darden, Local 391’s lead organizer, said workers are demanding better working conditions, affordable health insurance and job security, all issues that will be guaranteed in a strong Teamster contract.

The organizing effort that led to victory on Feb. 1 came after workers withstood numerous mandatory captive audience meetings, visits from corporate executives and ride-alongs from management. But the Teamsters helped counter those efforts. The union’s Waste Division reached out to other locals with Stericycle workers, and in turn Locals 377, 20 and 813 sent photos and encouraging words to these North Carolina workers. Now they are Teamster Strong!

The Stericycle victory was just the latest in a string of new waste industry wins in the South. Alabama Republic Services workers recently reorganized with Local 991, while Assistant Division Director Chuck Stiles organized Republic Services workers for Local 728 in Cummings, Ga.

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