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| Teamsters stand with American Reclamation workers at a rally in LA. |
California waste workers who want to be Teamsters are big, big winners in a battle against a union-busting sweatshop. American Reclamation was ordered to reinstate union activists and to quit bullying the rest of the workers.
This is a huge victory.
Here's what happened: American Reclamation fired three workers during a campaign in which they sought Teamster representation for 60 workers. They have plenty of reasons to organize. They're exposed to syringes, needles, rotten meat and toxic chemicals. The company was cited for 36 safety violations this spring. It has been intimidating workers who want to join a union.
On July 24, a district court judge ordered the company to give the three workers their jobs back and to stop threatening and coercing the rest of the employees. Ron Herrera, secretary-treasurer of Local 396 in Covina, pointed out that the National Labor Relations Board, a state agency and the district court all found the company broke the law. He said,
Bob Morales, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste, Recycling and Related Industries Division, said the union will continue to work with the NLRB and other agencies to make sure companies are held accountable for their behavior. He also said,
This is a huge victory.
Here's what happened: American Reclamation fired three workers during a campaign in which they sought Teamster representation for 60 workers. They have plenty of reasons to organize. They're exposed to syringes, needles, rotten meat and toxic chemicals. The company was cited for 36 safety violations this spring. It has been intimidating workers who want to join a union.
On July 24, a district court judge ordered the company to give the three workers their jobs back and to stop threatening and coercing the rest of the employees. Ron Herrera, secretary-treasurer of Local 396 in Covina, pointed out that the National Labor Relations Board, a state agency and the district court all found the company broke the law. He said,
This is a tremendous victory for the 60 sorters, drivers, helpers and mechanics at American Reclamation who are seeking better lives for themselves and their families.American Reclamation isn't the only union-busting sweatshop in the LA waste industry. The Teamsters are part of the “Don’t Waste LA” coalition, which seeks clean air, green jobs and recycling for all Los Angeles residents. It's working for regionwide standards in the commercial and multi-family waste and recycling system.
Bob Morales, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste, Recycling and Related Industries Division, said the union will continue to work with the NLRB and other agencies to make sure companies are held accountable for their behavior. He also said,
This ruling should send a message to all waste and recycling companies that this contemptible, vicious anti-worker behavior must not be allowed.Solidarity!
