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Global Union Urges DSI Tunneling Negotiate with Local 89
Local 89 members beginning their 23rd day on the strike line at DSI Tunneling in Louisville, have received international support from the global union federation of manufacturing unions. In a strongly-worded letter, the General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, which represents millions of workers around the world in the mining, energy and manufacturing industries, has urged the CEO of DSI Tunneling to negotiate the first contract for workers represented by Teamsters Local 89. (Click here for letter)
“I am writing this letter to you as General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, representing more than fifty million workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing industries in over 140 countries, to call on DSI to respect the decision of the majority of the workforce in Louisville Kentucky in favour of representation by Teamsters Local 89, and to engage in collective negotiations as a matter of urgency. Please note that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union.
On 15 November 2019, 79 percent of workers voted to become members of Teamsters Local 89. It was a free and democratic decision of the overwhelming majority of the workers and in that sense it must be strictly respected. IndustriALL Global Union condemns in the strongest terms the behaviour of DSI, which is using delaying, divisive, and outright anti-unions tactics— including hiring ‘union avoidance’ lawyers to represent them in the negotiations— to avoid engaging in any meaningful way with Teamsters Local 89, which is the legitimate representative of the DSI workforce. Therefore, it is imperative that DSI desist from its delaying schemes, lack of cooperation, unreasonable proposals, and efforts to divide the workforce, and instead engage in a constructive and mature social dialogue with Teamsters Local 89 aimed at continuing negotiations towards a first collective bargaining agreement.”
