Teamsters Hold Rally Backing Clark County Support Staff Workers

(LAS VEGAS)—Hundreds of members of the community and labor movement turned out in force at the Clark County School District building today to support the 11,000 Clark County School District workers, who, in light of anticipated budget cuts and potential lay-offs, contacted Teamsters Local 14 in Las Vegas seeking a strong voice to address their workplace concerns. View photos from this event.

“We need a strong union,” said Melissa Smith, a warehouse worker with the school district for 13 years. “We need to be Teamsters!”

The workers overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters in 2006, but they were denied certification by the Employee Management Relations Board (EMRB). The EMRB ruled that the unit would need the majority of all eligible workers to vote for the Teamsters rather than the more common simple majority of voters to win representation. In December 2009, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled the 2006 election results inconclusive and ordered the EMRB to conduct a runoff election.

“In tough times, workers need a tough union. Now, more than ever it is important that workers have a strong partner in the workplace,”said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel. “That’s why we are here today--to show the support and strength Teamsters will bring to the table for these Clark County workers.”

The Teamsters delivered a letter to the Clark County School Board President Terri Janison and Superintendent Walt Ruffles, calling on the School Board, as well as administrators and supervisors within the school district, to remain neutral and allow the support staff to decide which union will represent them.

“The Teamster stand together with the Clark County support staff to fight for justice, respect and dignity,”said Teamsters Western Region International Vice President Rick Middleton.

“We are here to deliver a message to the Board of Trustees of the Clark County School District: ‘Respect employees’rights to make their own choice!”

“The Teamsters are not going to give up until these workers get the representation they deserve,”said Teamsters International Vice President At-Large Randy Cammack. “We will continue to fight for them.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.