Nebraska Workers Now Teamster Road Warriors

Nebraska Workers Now Teamster Road Warriors

December 21, 2001

When the Saline County Board of Commissioners received a letter from Teamsters Local 554 requesting recognition for employees at the Saline County Road Department, the commissioners couldn’t believe it.

On December 13^th, roughly six months after contacting Local 554 in Omaha, Nebraska, 21 Saline County road employees voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters.

Distraught over the prospect of having to actually give their employees a voice in their workplace and not being able force road workers to do whatever the County wanted, the board refused to recognize Local 554 and hired an anti-union law firm to defeat the union. After last week’s vote, however, it appears the board wasted thousands of dollars of taxpayer money in an attempt to ignore the popular will of its employees.

“Promises don’t pay the bills,” said Larry Peterson, Business Agent and Recording Secretary for Local 554. “Only a signed contract protects the rights of employees and their families in the workplace.”

Saline County hired outside lawyers instead of using their own in-house counsel who has a salary paid for by taxpayers. The road workers became suspicious when their hard work and dedication were met with a union-busting law firm from outside county government. Later on, the firm called a meeting at the county’s extension office in Wilber, Nebraska to negatively influence the vote against Local 554. It didn’t work as the final tally was 19-2 in favor of union representation. Negotiations on a contract will begin immediately.

“We are very proud of the Saline County Road Department employees for standing their ground,” Peterson said. “It takes a lot of courage and strength to see through the lies and intimidation and that’s why these workers are Teamsters because they are strong.”