Joint Council organizing campaigns begin to bear fruit

By Pilar Barton, Strategic Organizer

Joint Council Organizing is in full swing. We have scheduled numerous organizing trainings and have launched several organizing campaigns.

This report comes at a critical time in our nation's history and for our labor movement. Fortunately, it's great to say that we are growing in numbers, so not only can we make a difference this year in our organizing efforts -- we know that we'll have increased clout in upcoming contract efforts as well as in the coming elections.

United Airlines mechanics

The United Airline Mechanics campaign was a huge victory and added 9,300 members to the Teamster ranks. Local 856 organizers, joined by International and rank-and-file organizers, worked rigorously to help Bay Area mechanics win their election for representation by the Teamsters. This success gives airline industry workers the kind of union density that allows for stronger and more enforceable contracts. The Teamsters will also be in a better position to ensure that United Airlines mechanics' work will not be outsourced.

UPS Freight

10,000 UPS Freight workers organized in 100 days! And, on April 5th, close to 250 UPS Freight workers from Locals 70 and 287 ratified their first contract. The agreement provides them with improved wages and benefits.

Joint Council Organizing is working in coordination with those two locals to keep the internal organizing committees functioning post contractratification. The unity of these workers is an asset to the locals and assures dignity in the workplace.

Locals 890 and 624 are both close to collecting the majority of signed union cards at the UPS Freight facilities in their jurisdictions. Once these cards are in hand, the workers will be able to sign on to the new master contract.

Ongoing Campaigns

Joint Council 7 Organizing continues to work in coordination with several locals on numerous ongoing campaigns in the construction, warehouse, and public sector industries.

Local 853 is working on campaigns in the beverage and construction industries with election dates coming up.

Local 624 is currently working on three organizing campaigns. In addition to UPS Freight, they have a campaign at V Dolan Trucking, and have filed a petition with the Labor Board for an election date. And at MV Transportation, the local has filed for card check recognition.

Local 624 has done a terrific job helping workers organize. A united effort by local staff and Joint Council Organizing will ensure these workers are properly prepared for the company anti-union tactics that we've grown to expect in any union organizing drive. We are also working with the local to develop internal structures that will ensure workers' unity up to and beyond the first contracts.

We are working with Local 912's rank-and-file volunteer organizer on campaigns in the bread and beverage industries. Local 70 and 287 are in the beginning stages of several campaigns in their traditional industries and are using these campaigns as a training ground for volunteer organizers.

It would be impossible for Joint Council Organizing to implement all of the campaigns currently in the works without the help of local staff, retirees and active members. We are therefore encouraging locals to contact Joint Council 7 to schedule organizing trainings.

The opportunity before us

We are in a unique position to organize because the unorganized workers in our country are crying out for change.

Why? One key reason is that workers' rights and collective bargaining coverage in America have slipped to the bottom in comparison to other industrial nations. We are in the midst of a health care crisis, with record high costs and less coverage than ever before. Workers are losing the pensions they were counting on and their retiree health coverage.