Worker's unions

[Droopy]

How would one go about getting a union into one's work place?

I'm a trucker and there was a time that most truckers were union. Not any more. More trucking companies are non-union now than union. I work for a non-union company. The pay is average, but they've got some good benefits like good, affordable health insurance and short term disability insurance. They do offer a 401k with 3% company matching, but they don't have pensions for their workers. I haven't had a raise in the 5 years that I've worked for them. In fact I'm making less money now than when I started with them. What do you think? Is it even worth the struggle and if so how would I go about getting a union in there? I slip seat tractors and when I hop in a different tractor somebody often has had the radio tuned to an AM station. I'm thinking that we could have some ditto-heads that could make it more difficult to get unionized.

[eyepaddle]

1. Call your local teamsters office,

They'd be delighted to hear from you. THere's a bit to organizing though, I'm not a labor lawyer, but I believe there needs to be a petition signed by a percentage of the workers, and if you hit that number it goes to a general vote.

And make no mistake your bosses WILL try HARD to make it difficult to organize.

I say good luck!

[Droopy]

2. Thank you

It would have to be an effort by several people to get it done then. The company has mostly over-the-road drivers although the terminal that I work out of is mostly local drivers. I'd have to get people in Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas together to get this accomplished. Or is it possible that one section of a company can be union?

[eyepaddle]

3. It can go either way

and be national like, say an airline, or it can be office to office. Even job to job within an office. My dad worked in a printing plant in shipping, he and the other guys there were teamsters, the presmen were pressmen, the people in stitching were bookbinders etc...

In my outfit, the local office is non-union, but the truck drivers (not technicians--even though they drive CDL stuff too) are union. It gets kinda complex.

But I know the union guys will have all the info you need.

[China_cat]

8. yes, a section of a company can organize

You're talking about Florida as part of it.

Contact [e-mail] and ask him for help.

[Droopy]

9. Well, actually

if I were just to try to organize a section of the company it would be in Ohio since that's where the terminal is that I work out of.

[China_cat]

15. Local 73

also represents a company in Maumee, so Paul would be able to help you there, too. If not actually organizing with OPEIU, he also knows the business reps from the other unions in that area.

An email can't hurt.

Oh, and the afl-cio website has a section on organizing.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Try asking for RIGHT to REPRESENT

They are called RIGHT TO REPESENTATION cards and once they have a 2/3 majority of the company employees signed on the will begin negotiating with the owners

[Droopy]

7. Thanks for the info

I've never worked for a union company before so all this stuff is new to me.

[FreakinDJ]

4. IBEW LU 340

I am strong pro-union

My pay is at least keeping pace with inflation or doing slightly better. My pension is growing at rate of $5 per every hour I work. But most importantly of all i don't have to go begging alone.

I am currently helping out some brothers who where decieved into joining a shrill of a union. The Business agent negotiated for $2 an hour under prevailing wage and has a resume up on Monster.com as a union buster. These guys are sueing him for violating his own Bi-laws and are going to hold elections and put it place a REAL business agent that will get them more money and insure their pensions are safe.

There is a way but it takes work

[eyepaddle]

6. Should we think about starting a DU

labor group?

I just checked and I'm a little surprised we don't have one already. I am also strongly pro-union, though I tend to get jobs in non-union industries.

I spent a few years trying to get the office (that I am only now with on a VERY part-time basis) to unionize. Sadly it was a bunch of talk that went nowhere.

I think a union resurgence is just what this country needs.

[Kerrytravelers]

12. Post this idea in GD and I'll support the group.

[eyepaddle]

14. Okay, I'll throw it out,

I've never been in on the formation of a group, but I'm sure I'll pick it up as we go along.

[Droopy]

10. Kick

There's a good suggestion above for a labor group. Let's talk about that, too.

[rstlne]

11. Posted over in GD...

...sounds as if it could be of interest to you.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3651476&mesg_id=3651476

[Droopy]

13. Cool

Thanks for the link.