Headline News
Intermodal Rail Workers Join Teamsters Local 710; Fifth Industry Victory Since late 2016
On Thursday, July 25, 2019, workers at ITS ConGlobal in Chicago voted to join Teamsters Local 710, becoming the fifth group of intermodal rail transportation workers to join the Teamsters since November 2016. There are 74 workers in the bargaining unit.
The latest victory is at ITS ConGlobal’s 63rd Street Intermodal Facility in Chicago. The workers are fighting for job security, a better scheduling process and a higher standard of living. The 74 men and women overcame a brutal anti-union campaign to join their brothers and sisters at ITS’ Joliet, Calumet and Harvey intermodal facilities, all in Illinois.
“This victory is amazing—it was what we needed,” said Christion Smith, a 15-month employee at the 63rd Street facility. “It’s a relief. This is about getting ourselves on the right track for a better life. It feels great being a Teamster.”
“The company ran an aggressive anti-union, anti-worker campaign, but the workers stood strong and united,” said Mike Cales, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 710 in Mokena, Illinois. “Just like we have done at the other locations, we will work hard to negotiate a contract that addresses the serious issues the workers are trying to address.”
In February 2018, workers at ITS Calumet voted to join Local 710. There were 57 workers in the bargaining unit.
In late 2017, workers at ITS ConGlobal in Harvey, Ill., voted overwhelmingly to join Local 710. There were 133 workers in the bargaining unit.
In November 2016, 777 workers at Parsec, Inc. in Commerce, Calif. voted to join Teamsters Local 986. In July 2017, 507 workers at Parsec in Elwood, Ill. voted to join Teamsters Local 179.