Many of us who enjoy our Union Jobs may not understand the work that goes into organizing a group of workers who want to vote Union YES.
And those of us who have been through it know ALL TOO WELL how grueling and confusing it can be for potential members.
We as Teamsters often celebrate the members who win with joy and exuberance, because the members are the ones who had the courage to step out of their comfort zone for something better. But this is about the behind-the-scenes coordination that takes place on every organizing campaign. It is never ever as simple as a group of workers getting together and voting.
Most times, when a Union vote is announced and certified by the National Labor Relations Board(NLRB), the company will hire Union Busters to come in and deceive and intimidate workers during the entire campaign. Seeding little bits of doubt with lies and deceptions, and those tiny seeds of doubt can derail an otherwise well-intentioned group of workers who just want a union contract for a better life.
It takes a group of professionals to successfully deliver the truth to workers who are in a Union campaign, and its an all-hands-on-deck effort. So when First Student Bus Drivers contacted Local 853 for representation, we reached out to the IBT and JC7 to team up on the Union campaign and the results were great.
Directed by Business Agent Tracy Kelley, who manages and supports roughly 1200 members in the bus driver division(dispatchers, vehicle cleaners, reservationists, and warehouse members), IBT/JC7 organizers Adam Padilla, Allison Calistro-Yazzie, Organizer Aurellio Mendoza, Organizer Maria Ambriz, and Alejandro Negrete put in that all-hands-on-deck work to support these potential members. Weeks of multiple in-person one-on-one conversations, group meetings, emails, and text messages are what kept this group in possession of the truth about Union representation. It ultimately resulted in a whopping 29-6 vote yes. A rarely seen percentage.
Teamsters Local 853 would like to take this space to recognize the efforts of this group, who did such a good job. Their selfless work in support of our Local was a model of unity and success.
“This group’s hustle on the First Student organizing drive was Teamsters-level good. Their contribution has made Teamsters Local 853 stronger as a local, and was a model of cooperation between our Local and the IBT and JC7.” said Stephen Beck, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853.“Because of their effort, I can say congratulations to our newest brothers and sisters for standing up for what they deserve,” “These drivers ensure that our kids get to and from school safely. They ought to be treated with respect and they deserve a fair contract that reflects their importance within the community.”
Pictured from left to right: Organizer Aurellio Mendoza, Organizer Maria Ambriz, First Student Driver Vanessa Bumbrico, Organizer Adam Padilla, Organizer Allison Calistro-Yazzie, and Business Agent Tracy Kelley
