Published 22 Aug, 2011
Nine Local 234 members, who work at the Hyundai-Rotem Co. railcar production facility in Philadelphia, have successfully won back-pay and reinstatement for being discriminated against by management as union members.
TWU Local 234 members were victorious on Aug. 10 after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved a settlement, brought by Local 234, of unfair labor practice charges against the Hyuandai Rotem and Philadelphia L.L.C. as well as more time to negotiate a labor contract.
“I’m happy the NLRB and TWU stood behind us,” said James Serratore, one of the workers fired in December. “If we didn’t have the union behind us we wouldn’t of gotten our jobs back.”
After the firings, the members teamed up and started petitions for the fired workers. Despite the length of time it took, they all stuck together handing out fliers and protests to give people a chance to understand that it could happen to any of them.
The members persistence helped them as the NLRB agreed with them that management had treated them unfairly, singling out only union members, by implementing unfair discipline and strict enforcement of attendance and rest-break policies.
“Nothing can divide us, this victory is the greatest thing for us,” said Ivan McNeil. “We are ONE and we will be victorious. This union came to our lives and we are changed forever. We thank the International union and the Local for supporting us. We are ONE.”
Hyundai Rotem is to pay the nine workers nearly $95,000 total, while the 54 others who were unfairly disciplined will have their records cleared.
The local’s hard work and dedication to their brothers and sisters affected by management’s unfair treatment showed the union has strength and that they will not back down.
The workers of Hyundai Rotem and TTA Philadelphia became members of TWU 234, which also represents workers at SEPTA, the public transit system in the greater Philadelphia area, last October after a long, hard fought campaign against management’s intimidation tactics.