(The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued the following on May 22.)
WASHINGTON — On April 27, following a recognition picket that shut the company down, workers at Rail Unlimited, Inc. voted 19-3 to join Local 657 in San Antonio. The new Teamsters unload vehicles from rail cars for the company.
“The workers, after meeting with us several times, made it clear they wanted to form a union with the Teamsters, so they demanded recognition,” said Frank Perkins, Local 657 President. “The company refused, so the workers set up the picket.”
The workers at Rail Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) walked out of the yard around 11 a.m. on April 6 to set up the picket. They returned to work around 6 p.m. the next day, April 7.
“We shut them down for two days,” Perkins said. “The workers sent the company a message that they meant business.”
The workers at two carhaul companies that operate out of the same yard—Hadley Auto Transport and Jack Cooper Transport Co.—honored the picket, as well as members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
In exchange for ending the picket, the company agreed to a code of conduct in the days leading up to the election, and agreed to not violate the law.
“The workers are seeking fair wages and improved benefits, as well as more full-time jobs,” Perkins said. “Because most of the positions are part-time, there is a revolving door. We hope to stop that revolving door.”