Nats Facility Workers Vote in Union
Monday, March 24, 2014(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Facilities workers at Nationals Park voted
in Local 99 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) on Friday.
The election was the culmination of a months-long campaign to organize
the more than 20 skilled workers at the home of the Washington Nationals.
“In the final weeks leading up to the election, the Nationals ran an intense
vote ‘No’ campaign that included almost daily meetings with excessive
warnings
about strikes,” reports Local 99 organizer Eamon Clifford. Local 99 countered
with a letter of support from the Major League Baseball Players Association,
signed by president Tony Clark, urging the unit members to stay strong.
"I am exceedingly proud of these brave workers and happy to welcome them
to our union," said Michael Murphy, Local 99's Business Manager.
Local 99 represents approximately 3,600 skilled maintenance workers throughout
the DC area.