WASHINGTON, March 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Drivers with Ryder Integrated Logistics at three
California locations have voted to
join the Teamsters Union, gaining representation for 105 workers in
one week.
The drivers in Orange,
Riverside and Fontana, Calif., united to improve wages,
health insurance, working conditions and treatment on the job.
There are 84 drivers in Riverside and nine drivers in Fontana who are now members of Teamsters Local
166 in Bloomington, Calif., and 12
drivers in Orange, Calif. who have
joined Teamsters Local 952, also located in Orange.
"We wanted to make changes, to get respect, dignity and a
union," said Victor Medina, a
15-year driver in Orange. "We are
good, professional drivers and things need to be better for
us."
The drivers united over changes by the company to the wage
structure, which meant working more hours for less pay; excessive
health insurance costs for individuals and families; and how they
feel they are treated at work.
"It's embarrassing what has been done to us. Instead of having a
raise after six years working here, they dropped our rates. I like
my job, but we deserve respect. That's why we wanted to join the
Teamsters," said Alejandro Diaz, a
driver from Riverside.
Junior Hernandez, a Ryder driver
who works in Fontana, heard about
the Teamsters through his brother, who is a member.
"It's a great organization and the mechanics here are Teamsters.
I want to be part of that team," Hernandez said.
Teamsters Local 495 in West Covina,
Calif., represents about 350 Ryder mechanics throughout
Southern California and
Las Vegas, and has represented
them for 40 years.
Patrick Kelly,
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 952, welcomed the drivers to the
Teamsters, noting a recent surge in organizing.
"The Teamsters Union has a solution to income inequality for
workers. It's called organizing," Kelly said. "Workers are seeing
the opportunity to step up and organize."
Mike Bergen, Secretary-Treasurer
of Local 166, congratulated the new Teamster members at Ryder on
their efforts.
"The battle to organize is never easy and you have to stay
united, performing the goals to change your working conditions,"
Bergen said. "I'm proud of Local 166, Local 952 and Local 495
working together. When we work together, we can be strong."
"The International Union, Joint Council 42 and local unions have
come together, and have done a great job of helping these workers
who need a union to organize," said Randy
Cammack, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42 based in
Pomona, Calif.
The drivers also had the support of the Southern California chapter of the Teamsters
National Black Caucus and the California Teamsters Hispanic
Caucus.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million
hardworking men and women throughout the
United States, Canada and
Puerto Rico. Visit
www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter
@Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/teamsters
Contact:
Kara Deniz,
(202) 497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters