WASHINGTON, D.C. — By a 2-to-1 vote, maintenance of way workers on the Meridian and Bigbee Railroad voted for Teamster representation today. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), a division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, had undertaken the successful organizing campaign several months ago.
“This is a great victory for the workers on the Meridian and Bigbee railroad,” said Tim McCall, Director of Organizing for the BMWED. “The employer was very anti-union, but our organizers, Mark Barbour and Len Buckley, worked closely with the employees, who were very determined and stood strong.”
The next step is for the new Teamster members to start forming their contract committee so they can begin bargaining on their first collective bargaining agreement.
The Meridian and Bigbee Railroad covers 180 miles of territory between Meridian, Mississippi, and Montgomery, Alabama. The railroad is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. It is primarily a freight railroad which carries wood products from the Georgia Pacific plant.
The Teamsters Union was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.