Posted October 16, 2006

1) Tell us about a specific instance when union membership could have made a difference to you.  

A long time ago, I was in a situation where I was let go for no reason and the Teamsters helped me get my job back. Unfortunately, this is the type of situation that happens every day at my company. I see people let go for no good reason all the time. They supposedly let you appeal a decision, but it’s usually not a fair or thorough process. Recently a yard hostler was let go for not seeing two people standing in the back of a trailer as he was trying to pull it out – even though the supervisor told him he could go.  

2) What are the real-life benefits you and your co-workers hope to have as a member of a union?  

For once, we could have a decent contract instead of a company hand book that’s never followed. Most times management just makes up the rules as the day goes by. Another real-life benefit would be a better pension that would help ensure a stable retirement. Finally, as part of a union, we could look forward to real seniority and do away with the favoritism that happens on a daily basis.  

3) How do you get the word out about these benefits?  

Wherever I go, I hand on literature from the Teamsters and encourage people to take the first step to learn about the union. Education is very important, because if we can’t show them the difference between what they have now and what they would have as part of a union, we’re not going to be successful. I tell them about workshops and seminars where they can learn the facts about being part of a union.  

4) What do you say to co-workers who are skeptical?  

Like anything in life, I tell them not to judge a book by its cover. If people are hesitant or skeptical, I take the time to talk about their concerns. Sometimes people have never been part of a union and sometimes it’s because they had a bad experience with a specific situation or company. I’ll always take notes and get answers for them, which helps us get our message out. If we hope to become a part of the Teamsters, we’re going to have to win over the skeptics.

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