Teamsters Local 676, which covers the Camden-southern New Jersey areas, ended 2008 by adding 25 new members. The members are public works, police dispatchers and telecommunicators.
Public works employees in Greenwich Township voted 13-0 to join the Teamsters. The bargaining unit has 15 employees, who tend the grounds, streets and parks of the township.
Police dispatchers and telecommunicators in Ocean Township voted 10-0 to join the Teamsters. The bargaining unit has 10 employees.
Howard W. Wells, president of Local 676, said the Ocean Township workers did a lot of union “shopping around” before choosing the Teamsters.
"They actually went around and interviewed a lot of different unions, and then they sought us out because they believe the Teamsters are the best union for them," Wells said.
In Greenwich Township, the workers saw that Local 676 represented a number of workers in neighboring municipalities.
"From word of mouth, they found out that Local 676 represents other workers very well," Wells said.
