Ed Thompson, Local 776 B.A. & Organizer
Organizing Update for August 2010
Cumberland Township Police Department On July 20, 2010 the PLRB certified Teamster Local 776 as the bargaining representative for the Townships police department. The Township and the Union submitted a Joint request, which was granted. There are 18 officers in this Department.
This is the 10th Police department represented by Local 776.
Marysville Borough Police Department On June 14, 2010 the Officers of the Marysville Police Department vote in a PLRB election to become members of Local 776. We had a concern about meeting Act. 111 deadlines, but we started negotiations on time and all deadlines have been met.
Durham East In the June Update I reported that the NLRB is in the process of reviewing the challenges for the East election there have been over 800 pages of evidence submitted over the challenges, the Board has yet to make a decision.
Rite Aid Rally On June 23rd Agents and Volunteers from Local 776 assisted our brothers and sisters from the ILWU at a rally at the Hilton in Harrisburg. Teamsters Local 776’s Tractor trailer was the back drop for the guest speakers at the rally.
Click here to view Pictures from the rally
Click here to read Thank You letter from ILWU
Local 776 President Robert Snyder spoke to the crowd about the past history of Rite Aid at Local 776 and demanded that Rite Aid respect the workers rights at the Lancaster Distribution Center.
Organizing Update for June 2010
Rye Township Police Department- On May 19, 2010 the Townships Police Department voted in a PLRB election to join the Teamsters Union. This will be the 8th Police Department represented by Local 776.
Durham (East York) - On May 23, 2010 the NLRB held an election at the Durham East York yard. There are 64 eligible voters in this unit, 63 voted in the election, the final tally was 29 for Teamsters 28 for no representation, and 6 ballots were challenged. The challenges could not be resolved on Election Day so the Board Agent packed everything up and went back to Baltimore. We are in the process of sorting out all the challenges.
Gettysburg Non-Uniformed- On May 27, 2010 the employees that work at the Police Department, Parking Deck and Road Crew voted 18 to 0 to be represented by Local 776. During the election with the Police in January I met with the public work employees and they decided that they also needed the Teamsters to help them gain the respect they deserve.
Marysville Police Department- There is an election scheduled for Monday June 14, 2010. We filed for this election in mid April but the Borough delayed saying they did not agree with the Unit described in the petition, when it came time to go to the hearing they changed their minds. The delay was just to keep us from meeting the deadlines under act 111. The Officers agreed they wanted to move forward as Teamsters even if we were unable to meet the deadlines.
Durham (Central) - We filed for this election on April 30, 2010 and Durham took the position that the Unit we filed for was not appropriate. On May 20, 2010 we attended a hearing at the NLRB in Baltimore and both sides presented their cases, the Board upheld all 5 of our arguments and issued an election order now all we have to do is get a date.
Additional Campaigns- We have notified the Cumberland Township Supervisors that their Police officers will be joining the Teamsters Union and offered them 2 options to complete the process.
Organizing Update for May 2010
Durham – (Spring Grove)
On April 23rd, 2010 the 95 employees of the Durham (Spring Grove) yard voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 776. The employees endured a very aggressive anti-union campaign. A week before the election we held a rally at the facility that was very well attended.
To view pictures of the campaign click here
During the last meeting 2 days before the election Durham told the employees that they could lose their Lock out Privileges and also no longer be able to take their children on the busses. This group stayed focused on the real issues and pulled out the win.
Rye Township Police Department
The Township refused to recognize the Teamsters under Act 111. So on May 19th, 2010 we will have an election for the lone Officer of the Township and then move on with negotiations.
Marysville Police Department
We have a hearing for the Marysville Police Department. This is another municipality that claims not to have any money but would rather hire a Philadelphia lawyer to fight a loosing battle then sit down with the Teamsters and work through the issues. We will not back down from this fight.
Durham – (East York)
We have an election scheduled for the East York yard on May 26th, 2010. There are 57 people in this unit.
Local 776 continues to work daily on organizing campaigns. To view a list of recent organizing victories click here.
ORGANIZING UPDATE FOR APRIL
NEWPORT POLICE
The Newport Borough Council has agreed to recognize Teamsters Local 776 as the Bargaining representative for the Borough’s Police Department, all the required paper work has been signed off. We have amended the current contract to reflect Teamsters as the agent and Business Agent Robert Snyder has started negotiations. This will be the 7th police force represented by Local 776.
EMPIRE KOSHER
The election for this unit took place on March 11th The company ran a very aggressive anti-Union campaign despite having other employees at the same facility represented by the UFCW. The employees vote to stay non-union. I would like to thank the committee members for staying strong and committed to the cause.
DURHAM BUS
We have filed for an election in the Spring Grove yard and are waiting for the NLRB to set a date. In addition we are very close to our target numbers in 2 other yards. We have had a positive response in the last 2 yard and are making progress. The IBT organizers assisted by Local organizers are working very hard to get all 5 yards to election before the end of the school year.
RYE TOWNSHIP POLICE
We requested recognition from the Township in January and the Township failed to respond, on March 22nd we filed a petition with the PLRB to schedule an election.
MARYSVILLE POLICE
A recognition request was made to the Borough Manager on March 11th. The Borough Solicitor is reviewing the request.
When workers organize with the Teamsters Union, they gain the power to make themselves heard.
Forming a union at your workplace gives you and your co-workers the power to stand up for your families, your futures and yourselves. Through a legal, binding contract it gives you a strong, collective voice with which to demand decent working conditions, with fair pay and benefits.
That's what the Teamsters are all about: decent working conditions, better pay, strong benefits and dignity and respect on the job.
The Teamsters can help you explain the benefits of union membership to your fellow employees, and assist in planning an organizing drive.
Once you and your co-workers become Teamsters, working with your local union representatives, contract language and proposals for negotiations are developed. Local Union officers and business agents fight with you to win a fair, good-paying Teamster contract with job protection that you deserve.
Teamsters contracts are the best in the labor movement. We have earned our reputation for bargaining hard and demanding the best protections and wages. For a century Teamsters solidarity has kept corporate America from holding the cards and calling all the shots. When you join the Teamsters you put that history to work for you.
We are the Teamsters. We are 1.4 million strong and our membership is growing. Join us. WE WIN WHEN WE STAND AS ONE.
Need A Union?
Contact Teamsters Local 776 at (717) 233-8766
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