Local 135 Wins Recognition For 140 Americold Workers

With the help of Teamsters Warehouse Division Director John Williams and the Teamsters Organizing Department, Local 135 won voluntary recognition August 5 of 140 employees at the Americold facility in Indianapolis.

“Over 70 percent of the unit had signed cards to be represented,” said Brian Buhle, Secretary-Treasurer of Indianapolis-based Local 135. “The coordination between the International Union and the local, along with the strong in-plant organizing committee, made this happen.”

“The workers want to negotiate a contract that will bring fairness and equal treatment,” said Jeff Combs, Local 135 organizer. “They also want to fix the current attendance policy and they want better healthcare coverage.”

The Americold campaign is a coordinated and strategic national campaign led by the Teamsters Organizing Department. There were approximately 400 workers organized last year between local campaigns and the Organizing Department.