Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Woo-hoo! Teamster organizing victory in NY

Please welcome our 16 new brothers and sisters who voted 11-5 to join Teamsters Local 294. They deliver oxygen tanks and related equipment for Life Gas in Cohoes, N.Y.

Local 294 President John Bulgaro tells us that this is the local's first private sector organizing win in a long time. The local has more recently focused on public sector campaigns.

The workers started their drive to become Teamsters when they approached Business Agent Tom Quackenbush looking for better wages, benefits and safety standards at the company.

Bulgaro thanked the workers, Quackenbush and Business Agent Rocco Losavio for staying the course in spite of management's efforts to derail the organizing effort:
The workers remained firm and withstood the company's tactics. They worked closely with our business agents to bring the organizing drive home. We welcome Life Gas drivers to Local 294 and we are honored to represent them.
Local 294 looks forward to negotiating a strong first contract for Life Gas Teamsters, he added.

Welcome to the Teamsters!