NLRB Hearing
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) hearing over Refresco’s election objections was held on Wednesday, August 11th. The company lawyers argued that because the voting started five minutes late one day the whole election was not valid. The union, on the other hand, argued that there was no one who didn’t vote due to the five-minute delay, workers had many hours (16) available to vote, and the election results are valid.
The company didn’t present a shred of evidence that any voters were disenfranchised. The company also didn’t even call its own election observer that morning as a witness. The witnesses for the union (Irma Carrillo and Luz Martinez) did a great job answering questions about the election. Both sides now have until August 20th to submit briefs (written summary and arguments), and then the Labor Board will issue a decision.
The company’s election objection is just an attempt to stall bargaining with the workers. Refresco needs to respect our decision to form a union and start negotiations without further delay!
Bargaining Committee and Steward Elections
Congratulations to the following winners of the July election:
Negotiation Committee
- Alex (Alejandro) Sarabia (Maintenance)
- Anthony Sanchez (Production)
- Carlos (Julio) Cardona Bustamante (Blend Room)
- Cesar Moreira Zambrano (Blend Room)
- Diana Acevedo (Production)
- Erik (Fabian) Moran (Warehouse)
- Irma Carrillo Montoya (Production)
- Ivan Rios (Blend Room)
- Lida Guevara (Lab)
- Maria Isabel Ovalle Villa (Production)
Stewards
- Ivan Rios (Blend Room – Day Shift)
- Javier (Luis) Alvarez (Blend Room – Night Shift)
- Vacant (Lab- 1st Shift)
- Lida Guevara (Lab – 2nd Shift)
- Marielis Ortiz (Lab – 3rd Shift)
- Alejandro Sarabia (Maintenance – 1st Shift)
- Vacant (Maintenance – 2nd Shift)
- Vacant (Maintenance – 3rd Shift)
- Cecilia Zambrano (Production – Day Shift)
- Diana Acevedo (Production – Day Shift)
- Irma Carrillo (Production – Day Shift)
- Licinia Ochoa (Production – Day Shift)
- Luz Arcila (Production – Day Shift)
- Maria Isabel Ovalle Villa (Production – Day Shift)
- Allan Pineda-Romero (Production – Night Shift)
- Anthony Sanchez (Production – Night Shift)
- Jose Falcon (Production – Night Shift)
- Nelva Castellanos (Production – Night Shift)
- Victor Zuluaga (Production – Night Shift)
- Yohan Casanova (Production – Night Shift)
- Jose (Pepito) Delgado (Sanitation – 1st Shift)
- Vacant (Sanitation – 2nd Shift)
- Vacant (Sanitation – 3rd Shift)
- Abdon Moran (Warehouse – 1st Shift)
- Vacant (Warehouse – 2nd shift)
- Jose Cepeda (Warehouse – 3rd Shift)
The bargaining committee will meet to start training and preparing this week. After the negotiating committee reviews the contract surveys from the members and writes proposals, we will schedule a membership meeting for members to vote on the union’s bargaining proposals.
We will likely have a steward training in early September. The stewards will be trained to help union members with problems at work.
If the workers in the areas without stewards want to choose stewards, you just need to have an election for your section and shift. Let one of the union leaders know if you need help organizing an election.