By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
SRM Concrete in Glasgow has voted to join the Teamster union.
SRM Concrete was founded in 1999 and has a plant located at 190 Trojan Trail. Concrete ready mix drivers voted “overwhelmingly” to join the Teamsters Local 89 in order to “address longstanding workplace concerns that were ignored by management, including a lack of respect, issues with pay progression and seniority, and the need for job security,” a Teamsters press release stated.
This union vote was done despite “illegal anti-union tactics,” like cutting hours and threatening to withhold employee bonuses, the release stated.
“SRM Concrete is one of the nation’s leading ready mix producers, but management is so blinded by greed that they resorted to union-busting,” said Avral Thompson, president of Local 89 and Teamsters Central Region International vice president. “Our new brothers and sisters showed courage throughout this campaign, and we proudly welcome them to the union.
“Despite the intense anti-union campaign from management, SRM Glasgow drivers displayed tremendous fortitude and never gave up on becoming Teamsters,” added Wes Odle, an organizer for Local 89. “We are prepared to continue filing charges against SRM as long as they continue to intimidate our members and ignore our union.”
Local 89 has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board due to the company’s alleged anti-union activities.
Teamsters Local 89 represents over 20,000 workers in Kentucky and Southern Indiana across dozens of industries.
SRM Concrete “strongly disagrees” with the Teamsters’ statements regarding the Glasgow operations, according to an email sent to Glasgow News 1 by JD Kious, general counsel for the company.
“Across our organization, we have consistently invested in our employees and provided clear, transparent pathways for pay progression and advancement. As a result, when given the opportunity to vote in secret-ballot elections, employees at SRM Concrete locations across the country have repeatedly rejected Teamster representation,” a SRM press release stated. “At the Glasgow facility, however, employees voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 89 after being presented with promises and claims that SRM Concrete believes were false or misleading. While we fully respect our employees’ legal right to choose union representation, we are disappointed that misinformation appears to have influenced the outcome of the election. Teamsters Local 89 has misrepresented both the facts and SRM Concrete’s record and has been dishonest with employees regarding the Company’s intentions and practices.”
“Allegations of intimidation, retaliation, or unlawful conduct by SRM Concrete are categorically false and will be addressed, and disproven, through the appropriate legal channels,” the release continued.
Glasgow News 1 has reached out to Lena Melentijevic with the Teamsters, and will include her comments when they are recieved.
Comments