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Training Drives Medical Transit Organizing Campaign
Outpatients put a lot of trust in drivers who transport them to and from doctors’ appointments. They expect to ride in vehicles with heat and decent brakes and to know that if a medical emergency arises, the driver can handle it.
Such was not the case with Dan Beth Medical Transportation in Jacksonville, Fla., according to CWA Local 3151 organizer Jemel Bryant. In fact, when a patient in driver Angela Blanchard’s charge had a heart attack, the best she could do was call dispatch and request an ambulance.
“A lot of the time those radios aren’t even working,” Bryant said. “She was lucky to be able to make contact and have them send someone.”
Conditions were ripe for professionally trained organizers and a dedicated inside committee to conduct a campaign on behalf of CWA Local 3151. Dan Beth drivers on Jan. 25 voted 42-11 to join the local. Eighty-two workers will be represented.
District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith congratulated the local’s executive board, organizers Jemel Bryant, Gail Floyd and Michele McNeil, inside committee leader Angela Blanchard and District 3 Organizing Coordinator Marilyn Baird.
“Most importantly,” said Smith, “the determination and fearlessness of these workers has brought them the benefit of CWA representation.”
Bryant is a recent graduate of the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, McNeil used to train organizers at the Institute, and Floyd — until recently local EVP — has years of experience as an organizer, Baird noted. She also said the inside leadership of Blanchard was invaluable.
Distraught over health and safety issues, a lack of training and failure by the company to file workers’ compensation claims, drivers contacted Bryant and representatives from both the Teamsters and AFSCME. With backup from McNeil and Floyd, Bryant laid out CWA’s case for representation at a meeting of the workers and representatives from the three unions. Fifty-five workers met and, by consensus, chose CWA. It was the first campaign Bryant led, Baird said.
With drivers often on the road and difficult to contact, Blanchard played a major role, Bryant pointed out. “I had no access to the facility. I had to rely on her to talk to people, distribute fliers, and keep the workers motivated. She did a really good job with keeping the workers focused and not letting the campaign become just about money, but about safety for workers and passengers and respect for themselves.”
The company was taken by surprise, said Baird. When CWA filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the union already had more than 70 percent support. With an attorney inexperienced in handling organizing campaigns, the company didn’t begin its largely ineffective anti-union campaign until two weeks before the election. Still, it got nasty.
“Management even went so far as to get on the intercom system and threatened to fire any worker who signed up for the union,” said Baird.
CWA has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the firings of drivers Chris Owens and Alexandria Bressent, who wore CWA T-shirts and openly supported the union.
Baird said the new unit is selecting a bargaining committee to work with CWA Representative Alan Keith in addressing their issues.
Such was not the case with Dan Beth Medical Transportation in Jacksonville, Fla., according to CWA Local 3151 organizer Jemel Bryant. In fact, when a patient in driver Angela Blanchard’s charge had a heart attack, the best she could do was call dispatch and request an ambulance.
“A lot of the time those radios aren’t even working,” Bryant said. “She was lucky to be able to make contact and have them send someone.”
Conditions were ripe for professionally trained organizers and a dedicated inside committee to conduct a campaign on behalf of CWA Local 3151. Dan Beth drivers on Jan. 25 voted 42-11 to join the local. Eighty-two workers will be represented.
District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith congratulated the local’s executive board, organizers Jemel Bryant, Gail Floyd and Michele McNeil, inside committee leader Angela Blanchard and District 3 Organizing Coordinator Marilyn Baird.
“Most importantly,” said Smith, “the determination and fearlessness of these workers has brought them the benefit of CWA representation.”
Bryant is a recent graduate of the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, McNeil used to train organizers at the Institute, and Floyd — until recently local EVP — has years of experience as an organizer, Baird noted. She also said the inside leadership of Blanchard was invaluable.
Distraught over health and safety issues, a lack of training and failure by the company to file workers’ compensation claims, drivers contacted Bryant and representatives from both the Teamsters and AFSCME. With backup from McNeil and Floyd, Bryant laid out CWA’s case for representation at a meeting of the workers and representatives from the three unions. Fifty-five workers met and, by consensus, chose CWA. It was the first campaign Bryant led, Baird said.
With drivers often on the road and difficult to contact, Blanchard played a major role, Bryant pointed out. “I had no access to the facility. I had to rely on her to talk to people, distribute fliers, and keep the workers motivated. She did a really good job with keeping the workers focused and not letting the campaign become just about money, but about safety for workers and passengers and respect for themselves.”
The company was taken by surprise, said Baird. When CWA filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the union already had more than 70 percent support. With an attorney inexperienced in handling organizing campaigns, the company didn’t begin its largely ineffective anti-union campaign until two weeks before the election. Still, it got nasty.
“Management even went so far as to get on the intercom system and threatened to fire any worker who signed up for the union,” said Baird.
CWA has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the firings of drivers Chris Owens and Alexandria Bressent, who wore CWA T-shirts and openly supported the union.
Baird said the new unit is selecting a bargaining committee to work with CWA Representative Alan Keith in addressing their issues.