Wednesday, October 11, 2017

New York Teamsters Block Union-Busting Move


By Zachary Smith

New York City-area movers packed up the inflatable rats—all three of them—and declared victory in late August. For two months, while members of Teamsters Local 814 were locked out of their jobs, they had mobilized in the streets to protest a local company’s decision to drop its unionized movers and warehouse workers.

Forty Teamsters could have lost good union jobs with benefits this summer. But per the agreement members ratified August 30, while the company, Waldner’s Business Environments, will no longer directly employ moving workers, it committed in writing to use subcontractors that pay fair wages and benefits and employ Local 814 members, with fines imposed for not adhering to the terms. 

Former Waldner’s employees will still have access to the same pension and health care plans and will receive a severance package, which for some will total 30 weeks' pay.

Long Island-based Waldner’s, an office furniture dealer, had employed union movers for more than half a century. Workers deliver office furniture for large public and private clients including the City and State Universities of New York, Columbia University, Macy’s, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: LaborNotes.org (via The Empire Report) 

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