Report From Moises Ortega:Business Agent, ORGANIZING:
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Just about a year ago, we organized Pat Salmon & Sons, Inc., who is known locally as Elbar. They are a US Mail contract hauler. We were very close to completing negotiations on their first contract when the company closed the Albuquerque facility on April 16th with less than two weeks notice. We have filed unfair labor practice charges against Pat Salmon and are seeking a 10(j) injunction through the NLRB to force the company to return to the status quo until a determination can be made regarding their motives for the closure. We also are moving forward with a possible lawsuit in Federal District Court for violation of the WARN Act, as they did not give sixty days advance notice of closure. These drivers were patient and held together through the negotiation process, and now to lose their jobs to other mostly non-union terminals of the company is an insult. These drivers deserve better and this Local Union will do all in its power to get some justice for them. 8-09-2011 Update for Salmon&Sons(Elbar):
The hearing that was scheduled for August 2nd was vacated (canceled) by the NLRB due to the company agreeing to a settlement offer. There was not enough evidence to warrant the re-opening of the ABQ terminal; however the company is going to come back to the table to negotiate over the effects of the closure. Click Here to read a copy of the official Notice from the NLRB which will be sent to all former employees homes informing you about the negotiations. We still have the WARN Act notification violation to fall back on if we cannot get what we think you have coming through negotiations. We will keep you updated as we go through the process.
Business Representative Moises L. Ortega 505-344-1925 ex 14
6-25-2011-Update for Salmon&Sons(Elbar)
As of right now, a hearing is scheduled in front of an Administrative Law Judge on August 2, 2011 to attempt to enforce an order issued by the Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board which forces the company to reopen its facility in Albuquerque and back pay the drivers. This is still going to be a long and ongoing process; however the Local Union is determined to follow this through to the end. The NLRB's findings are based on Unfair Labor Practice charges that the Union filed on behalf of the drivers. We will update information on this case as it becomes available on this web site. To read more, you can scroll down to the RMT entry by Moises Ortega.
In other organizing news, we are currently working to organize a group of tanker drivers. We had tried previously to organize this group, without success. However this time, we have strong support especially from the drivers who were around the first time and remember all of the broken promises. With plenty of inside help and strong committees, I feel very sure that we will be successful this time around.
