Driving - Teamsters Local 25

WorkersoteOVERWHELMINGLYDrivers Seek FairnessRick Sigmon, a driver at Praxair in Waltham,Massachusetts, said he and his coworkers were sickand tired of having their concerns ignored by management.So Sigmon and is coworkers took action byforming a union with Local 25.Sigmon and his 20 coworkers voted by an overwhelmingmajority, 18-3, to join the union. SteveSullivan, Director of Organizing and GovernmentAffairs at Local 25, said the workers were simplyseeking fairness.“There were a lot of issues here,” Sullivan said.“Favoritism was rampant and these guys wanted toget rid of it. They need better pay and vacation timeas well. These workers saw what Praxair peopleworking under a Teamster contract are getting elsewhereand realized how much better things can bewith the union.”The workers deliver oxygen tanks primarily tohomes and nursing homes.to Join Union“We’re tired of everyone taking from us and notgiving at all,” said Sigmon, who was recently electedsteward by his coworkers. “We’re tired of being invisible.We want to be visible and have our voicesheard.”For example, workers did not get a pay raise in2006. However, they were forced to pay an additional$30 per week for health-insurance coverage.“We banded together. We stood up together andsaid ‘enough is enough,’” said Sigmon, who hasworked at Praxair for about two years. “Now we havemanagement’s attention.”Sigmon said he looks forward to being an advocatefor his coworkers as steward.“I want everybody to have a fair shake and wantto come to work,” he said.Local 25 recently filed a petition to represent the17 technicians who work inside the Waltham center.www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2007 | The SPOKESMAN | 19