Allied Waste Workers in Texas Vote to Remain Teamsters

By a more than 2-1 margin, waste workers at Allied Waste in Fort Worth, Texas voted Thursday, January 15 to remain Teamsters despite a concerted effort by the company to halt the workers’ fight to win a contract.

"The Allied Waste workers persevered and remained focused and united in their fight to eventually win a strong Teamster contract,” said Bob Morales, Director of the Teamsters Solid Waste, Recycling and Related Industries Division. “We will continue to do whatever it takes to assist the workers, especially since Allied Waste will become Republic under a merger that is about to be finalized. We will be calling on the new management to settle the contract."

The workers belong to Local 767 in nearby Forest Hill, Texas. They voted 108-47 to remain Teamsters. There are 163 workers in the bargaining unit.

The unit went on strike two years ago and the workers agreed in good faith to return to work without a contract, but the company continued to stall. This was the second decertification vote. Now, the workers are more determined than ever to win a contract.

"Nothing is certain until it’s in black and white in a contract and that’s what we want,” said Clinith Brown, a mechanic who has worked at Allied Waste for about 16 years. ‘If we get it in writing, it will stand up in a court of law. It means a lot, especially to working families."

"I’m feeling good about the vote,” Brown said. “I’m very optimistic about out future."

Cesar Gustavo Lira, a steward who is a swing driver (roll-off, residential trash and recycling), said the key to the victory was that he and other leaders were truthful to their coworkers and there was good communication among workers.

"We voted to remain Teamsters so we can gain respect, dignity and put a stop to all the discrimination we face,” Lira said. “We need a strong Teamster contract so that we have protections, including a strong grievance procedure. I’m very happy with the vote results. My coworkers remained united. We will continue the fight together."

Sandra Jimenez, a Local 767 organizer, reflected on the workers’ victory.

"It’s important that people realize what a hard job they do. They remained united despite the company’s attempt at defeating them. This is a good example of why we need strong pro-worker laws in this country like the Employee Free Choice Act,” Jimenez said. “I want to thank the Solid Waste Division for all their help in the campaign."