June 22, 2020 – Today a majority of drivers at Quickway Carriers voted to join Teamsters Local 89, following a long and turbulent organizing effort. Quickway is now the third Teamster represented workforce at the Louisville Kroger Distribution Center, with Zenith and Transervice already at that location.
In January, we reported that Local 89 organizers had met with Quickway management on behalf of a majority of the workforce and demanded recognition. At that time Quickway management voluntarily recognized their workers had unionized. However, less than a week later Quickway management issued a statement to their workers filled with lies and misinformation and ultimately reneged on their recognition. Following this, Local 89 filed labor charges against Quickway and redoubled our organizing efforts. Unfortunately, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ultimately ruled that Quickway was not obligated to bargain with us, and so the campaign shifted focus into a more traditional organizing model.
Local 89 organizers filed a petition on behalf of the Quickway drivers who wished to become Teamsters, and the process began moving forward towards an election date. Then, when the COVID-19 crisis began, the NLRB suspended all elections and hearings for several weeks. Further delays arose when Quickway forced a hearing in an attempt to alter the election method.
Finally an election was set, votes were tallied and today the count revealed that, despite Quickway’s best efforts to stall and silence their workforce, the drivers voted to become the newest members of Teamsters Local 89.
“We are thrilled to have these strong brothers and sisters joining our Local Union,” said Fred Zuckerman, President of Teamsters Local 89. “They held together through months of adversity and refused to let the Company’s campaign of lies and intimidation win. They embody the spirit of what it means to be a Teamster.”
Over the course of this nearly yearlong campaign there were many Teamsters from Local 89’s staff and membership who provided assistance. President Zuckerman and the Officers of Teamsters Local 89 would like to thank Organizers Bryan Trafford and David Thornsberry, Business Agent Trey McCutcheon, Communications Director Stephen Piercey, Southern Region Vice President John Palmer, member activists Jeff Fischer, Chris Mivelaz, Matt Ward and anyone else who joined the fight!
And finally, from everyone at Teamsters Local 89, congratulations to the drivers at Quickway for their success in forming a union to better their lives, and welcome to our 15,000-member strong family!
