The challenge of organizing new workers into unions is not that the workers themselves are not interested in gaining union representation. Over the past six months, more than 100 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize. The first Amazon warehouse voted “union, yes!”. Area Director for Organizing Jesse Juarez reports that he hears from techs at car dealerships on a weekly basis who want to be in a union.

No, the challenge is that employers do everything they can to delay votes,muck up who should be in the bargaining unit, intimidate workers from voting for the union, and appeal rulings of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Most importantly, once the workers have stood up to all of that and voted for the union, employers refuse to honor the wishes of their employees to bargain in good faith.

Several organizing drives launched during the pandemic finally move ahead

Volvo Cars of Walnut Creek

The 12 technicians at Volvo Cars of Walnut Creek voted for union representation in September. Area Director for Organizing Jesse Juarez states that after four bargaining sessions with an anti-union attorney from Littler Mendelson, “it’s been nothing but surface bargaining.” He adds, “nobody votes for the union to maintain the status quo. Our main goal is to improve the subpar, costly medical coverage the dealership currently provides.” Juarez notes that the company also wants to withhold union security. “They believe that people shouldn’t have to pay union dues. Clearly, we differ on that.”

MV Transportation of Pinole

Juarez reports that in 2020, he organized the 13 WestCAT service workers, and ABC mechanics who work for MV Transportation. “We had gotten a three-year contract. But when the time came to negotiate a new contract, we learned that the General Manager had convinced our members to drop the union and he made promises about what they would get if they did.” Juarez says that the members believed the manager and the unit was disclaimed. In the fall of 2024, after the manager was longgone and most of his promises had been kept, the members called Juarez and asked to come back into the union. “Fortunately, the company voluntarily recognized the card check and the NLRB has confirmed that we are again the bargaining agent for these workers,” Juarez says. “We’re currently gearing up to negotiate their second contract.” Juarez says he tips his hat to this employer who didn’t campaign against the union. “The members also learned a valuable lesson: when it isn’t in writing, it doesn’t matter. Only trust what’s in writing!”

Tracy Toyota

Tracy Toyota techs voted for the union during the pandemic. “In the fall of 2023, they fired one of our main union supporters for violating a shop policy that had never previously been enforced,” says Juarez, who adds that he used to be foreman and was a witness in an NLRB hearing.) The union filed unfair labor practice charges. In November 2024, the NLRB issued a complaint for unlawful termination and gave the employer an order to resolve it by apologizing to the worker and by informing the other workers they have the right to organize.” A hearing will be held in May for the unlawful termination of a union supporter.

Audi of Concord

This is another shop that was organized during the pandemic. “The employer appealed the election results and fired a service advisor who happened to be a strong union supporter. “It was always a trumped-up case,” Juarez says. In November of 2024, one year later, the NLRB issued a complaint for unlawful termination, and they ordered reinstatement. “Of course, the company is so far refusing to comply. We expect the labor board to set a hearing date soon,” Juarez adds.

Lexus of San Diego

The members at Lexus of San Diego voted for union representation in 2020, during the pandemic. “It took the Labor Board more than two years to determine that the company unlawfully ran a decert election,” says Juarez. “The hearing will be held in July.”

UPS Production Specialists

The Production Specialists at UPS are the last group of employees in the company to get organized, but as of October 2024, those in Fremont, Richmond, and Lathrop are now union members. The Specialists work closely with plant engineering employees to clear logjams in the automated package sorting systems. They also maintain the computer software needed to keep the electronic systems up and running. According to Assistant Directing Business Rep Mark Martin, “they got the same increases as our mechanics, they immediately began paying less for benefits and they now have access to our pension plans and health benefits. In addition, there were a lot of positive changes in their conditions of work.” Martin adds, “We’ve experienced some growing pains with changes in work assignments and working conditions that we are currently sorting out. But this group is definitely a welcome addition to our union.” Interim Business Agent Cindy Gagliardi added that while the company didn’t fight the union drive, they’re not accepting the members’ new union status gracefully. “We’ve filed so many grievances. Hopefully, it will calm down soon.”