Teamsters

(CINCINNATI) –Ohio Teamsters’ leadership tonight said the defeat of Senate Bill 5 showed that Ohio voters support collective bargaining. SB5 would have stripped more than 350,000 public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.

“On behalf of all Ohio Teamsters and organized labor, the citizens of Ohio sent a message to Gov. Kasich and the Koch brothers, ‘Keep your hands off our rights to collectively bargain’,” said William Lichtenwald, President of Teamsters Local 20 in Cincinnati and the Ohio Conference of Teamsters.

“I hope the politicians in Columbus wake up and start listening to the middle class and looking out for our interests as opposed to corporate interests,” said Randy Verst, president of Teamsters Joint Council 26 in Cincinnati.

“Extreme politicians tried to shift the burden of the economic crisis to the middle class,” said Al Mixon, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 507 in Cleveland and a Teamsters International Vice President. “They tried to destroy our basic right to freedom of speech, the freedom to negotiate, the freedom to have a voice in the workplace. SB5 doesn’t just affect labor, it affects everybody. If they take away our basic rights, then they’ll take away everybody’s. Fortunately, Ohioans have come together to defeat this bad legislation. We won’t get fooled again.”

“This isn’t just a big victory for the Teamster snowplow drivers, corrections officers and nurses who work for the State of Ohio. It’s a big victory for Ohio’s middle-class workers,” said Gary Tiboni, President of Teamsters Local 436 in Valley View; Mr. Tiboni is also, President of Joint Council 41.

Teamsters represent 55,000 workers in Ohio, including about 7,000 police officers, snowplow drivers, nurses and corrections officers.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including more than 70,000 members in the airline industry. Visit www.local2727.org and www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter at #Teamsterpower.

(WASHINGTON) – The following is an official statement today from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the results of Tuesday’s election in Ohio. Ohio voters defeated Senate Bill 5, an anti-union measure that would have severely weakened collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public workers.

“Ohio voters just sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street, you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. And if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you will win.

“John Kasich thought he could get away with blaming workers for a budget deficit caused by Wall Street greed. He was dead wrong. Now he’s one of the most unpopular governors in the country. Ohio voters understand that nurses and snowplow drivers and firefighters don’t go to work for the government to get rich. Ohioans showed on Tuesday that they won’t stand for attacks on middle-class workers. I’m sure they’re no different from voters in any other state.

“For the first time in history, collective bargaining for government workers was approved in a statewide ballot. This election shows the public supports workers’ right to for a union in order to bargain with their employer. It’s a huge victory for all middle-class working families in Ohio.

“The Teamsters are grateful to the voters of Ohio for their support. And I’m proud of the Teamsters who worked so hard to collect signatures and to get out the vote. Most of the 55,000 Teamsters in Ohio work for private companies, but they showed tremendous solidarity with their fellow Teamsters who work for the government and with all public workers.

The Teamsters have 55,000 members in Ohio, including about 7,000 public employees.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @teamsterpower.

(WASHINGTON) – The following is an official statement today from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the results of Tuesday’s election in Ohio. Ohio voters defeated Senate Bill 5, an anti-union measure that would have severely weakened collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public workers.

“Ohio voters just sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street, you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. And if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you will win.

“John Kasich thought he could get away with blaming workers for a budget deficit caused by Wall Street greed. He was dead wrong. Now he’s one of the most unpopular governors in the country. Ohio voters understand that nurses and snowplow drivers and firefighters don’t go to work for the government to get rich. Ohioans showed on Tuesday that they won’t stand for attacks on middle-class workers. I’m sure they’re no different from voters in any other state.

“For the first time in history, collective bargaining for government workers was approved in a statewide ballot. This election shows the public supports workers’ right to for a union in order to bargain with their employer. It’s a huge victory for all middle-class working families in Ohio.

“The Teamsters are grateful to the voters of Ohio for their support. And I’m proud of the Teamsters who worked so hard to collect signatures and to get out the vote. Most of the 55,000 Teamsters in Ohio work for private companies, but they showed tremendous solidarity with their fellow Teamsters who work for the government and with all public workers.

The Teamsters have 55,000 members in Ohio, including about 7,000 public employees.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @teamsterpower.

The 115 Teamsters Local 463 members who work at Balford Farms in Burlington, N.J., have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year contract.

“We’re very pleased with this contract. We had no givebacks on anything.” said Robert Ryder, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 463 in Fort Washington, Pa.

The agreement covers members who deliver dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and retail establishments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The company also has exclusive delivery rights to Starbucks stores.

“This is a great agreement, with wage increases and maintenance of the superior Teamster benefit package,” said John Fogarty, President of Local 463.

“Thank goodness we are Teamsters because we were able to maintain our benefits and keep pace with the economy,” said George Call, a shop steward and delivery driver for Balford Farms, a supplier for Dean Foods.

Call has worked as a delivery driver for Balford Farms for 24 years. He works hard, starting his shift at 2 a.m. and finishing up around noon.

“We’re really pleased with what we got, especially in tough times,” Call said. “It was important we keep our health care and retirement because that’s the first thing that employers go after these days.”

Balford Farms is the region’s oldest privately-owned and operated independent dairy distributor, in operation since 1892.

The 115 Teamsters Local 463 members who work at Balford Farms in Burlington, N.J., have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year contract.

“We’re very pleased with this contract. We had no givebacks on anything.” said Robert Ryder, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 463 in Fort Washington, Pa.

The agreement covers members who deliver dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and retail establishments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The company also has exclusive delivery rights to Starbucks stores.

“This is a great agreement, with wage increases and maintenance of the superior Teamster benefit package,” said John Fogarty, President of Local 463.

“Thank goodness we are Teamsters because we were able to maintain our benefits and keep pace with the economy,” said George Call, a shop steward and delivery driver for Balford Farms, a supplier for Dean Foods.

Call has worked as a delivery driver for Balford Farms for 24 years. He works hard, starting his shift at 2 a.m. and finishing up around noon.

“We’re really pleased with what we got, especially in tough times,” Call said. “It was important we keep our health care and retirement because that’s the first thing that employers go after these days.”

Balford Farms is the region’s oldest privately-owned and operated independent dairy distributor, in operation since 1892.

(San Jose, Calif.)— Eighty Student Transportation of America (STA) workers in San Jose, Calif. voted to become Teamsters Tuesday evening, uniting for respect and a voice on the job.

“I look forward to better benefits and being treated with respect on the job,” said Kelly Watson. “My co-workers and I have really worked hard to come to this point and we’re going to continue to work hard so we can secure a strong contract.”

During their organizing campaign, STA workers held a “Speak Out,” a meeting where they brought their concerns and working conditions to the attention of the community. Dozens of workers spoke about the struggles they faced and why they chose to form their union.

“It felt good to tell people about our struggles and to have our community actually listen to us,” Watson said. “Confronting issues like favoritism, no paid sick days and a lack of respect head on was very empowering. Speaking out gave us the inspiration we needed to come together and form our union.”

The workers will join Local 287 in San Jose.

“We are elated to welcome these workers to our union and into the Teamster family,” said Bob Blanchet, President of Local 287. “These are hardworking people who will make a great impact on our local and we look forward to helping them secure a strong Teamster contract.”

The victory is the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 30,900 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

(San Jose, Calif.)— Eighty Student Transportation of America (STA) workers in San Jose, Calif. voted to become Teamsters Tuesday evening, uniting for respect and a voice on the job.

“I look forward to better benefits and being treated with respect on the job,” said Kelly Watson. “My co-workers and I have really worked hard to come to this point and we’re going to continue to work hard so we can secure a strong contract.”

During their organizing campaign, STA workers held a “Speak Out,” a meeting where they brought their concerns and working conditions to the attention of the community. Dozens of workers spoke about the struggles they faced and why they chose to form their union.

“It felt good to tell people about our struggles and to have our community actually listen to us,” Watson said. “Confronting issues like favoritism, no paid sick days and a lack of respect head on was very empowering. Speaking out gave us the inspiration we needed to come together and form our union.”

The workers will join Local 287 in San Jose.

“We are elated to welcome these workers to our union and into the Teamster family,” said Bob Blanchet, President of Local 287. “These are hardworking people who will make a great impact on our local and we look forward to helping them secure a strong Teamster contract.”

The victory is the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 30,900 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

(CINCINNATI) –Ohio Teamsters’ leadership tonight said the defeat of Senate Bill 5 showed that Ohio voters support collective bargaining. SB5 would have stripped more than 350,000 public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.

“On behalf of all Ohio Teamsters and organized labor, the citizens of Ohio sent a message to Gov. Kasich and the Koch brothers, ‘Keep your hands off our rights to collectively bargain’,” said William Lichtenwald, President of Teamsters Local 20 in Cincinnati and the Ohio Conference of Teamsters.

“I hope the politicians in Columbus wake up and start listening to the middle class and looking out for our interests as opposed to corporate interests,” said Randy Verst, president of Teamsters Joint Council 26 in Cincinnati.

“Extreme politicians tried to shift the burden of the economic crisis to the middle class,” said Al Mixon, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 507 in Cleveland and a Teamsters International Vice President. “They tried to destroy our basic right to freedom of speech, the freedom to negotiate, the freedom to have a voice in the workplace. SB5 doesn’t just affect labor, it affects everybody. If they take away our basic rights, then they’ll take away everybody’s. Fortunately, Ohioans have come together to defeat this bad legislation. We won’t get fooled again.”

“This isn’t just a big victory for the Teamster snowplow drivers, corrections officers and nurses who work for the State of Ohio. It’s a big victory for Ohio’s middle-class workers,” said Gary Tiboni, President of Teamsters Local 436 in Valley View.

Teamsters represent 55,000 workers in Ohio, including about 7,000 police officers, snowplow drivers, nurses and corrections officers.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including more than 70,000 members in the airline industry. Visit www.local2727.org and www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter at #Teamsterpower.