by Jeanne Brei
The 1,500 convention and trade show members of Teamsters Local 631 in Las Vegas (pictured above) voted this week in favor of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement that includes the largest wage package for the industry in the history of the local.
“Las Vegas is the number one convention and trade show destination in the world,” says Tommy Blitsch (pictured left), secretary-treasurer of Local 631 and director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show and Casino Division. “Local 631 members make trade shows happen. Every show goes up on time, every time and every show gets torn down on time, every time. We are the best. This contract rewards our members for the work they do.”
The contract, which sets the standard for trade show agreements nationwide, was negotiated by the members for the members, Blitsch says. The union used traditional and newer methods of outreach, including Zoom and online polling, to discuss what the members wanted and which issues were most important for them.to.discuss.
“We held numerous in-person contract proposal meetings with the ability to join via Zoom,” Blitsch says. “We asked the members for their proposals with the understanding that no proposal was too much and no proposal was stupid. The committee wanted to hear all of the membership’s issues so it could address their concerns. The members who participated were vital to achieving this contract.”
When the pandemic shut down the country, the trade show and convention industry was the first to close and the last to open back up. A little over a year ago, the convention and trade show industry in Las Vegas reopened to begin the comeback, Blitsch says. After 13 months, approximately 40 percent of the local’s members are not back to working the hours that they were prior to the pandemic. Given that and out-of-control inflation gripping the country, Blitsch explains that it was important to get as much money into members’ pockets now.
Prior to the vote, one member wrote his analysis about the proposed contract on Facebook. “I have concerns about Article 14.3.b, where all that is required to get a Teamster thrown out of the industry is a complaint or report about a terroristic threat. Literally anyone can file a report alleging something. It does not equal a conviction. This language is extremely concerning to me,” wrote John Schmitz. “The Aisle carpet provision requiring 8 hours guaranteed is great, but the “straight time equivalent pay” is not. What I am reading, and what Freeman will follow through with, is you can show up to a carpet call at 8 p.m., work two hours, and the mini will be paid in straight time. I can see Freeman trying to use this section to claim aisle carpet is straight time no matter what time you report and work. Just like they claimed that an eight hour break begins a new day, even if the second shift is on the same calendar day.
“The Article 11 Section Q.3 fails to adequately address the lack of a path to train and promote “Teamster Carpenters” to Journeyman status,” he continued. “As a “shop guy,” I see the problem with this first hand. We need to be able to provide Journeyman Teamsters with carpentry skill to EACs and the Generals when they need skilled carpenter work done in their shops. There was a time when this was called “Specialty Craft” or “Developmental Worker,” both of those options offered a great training path to get these guys on board. There are a number of “skilled extra board” carpenters that have been in our industry and have tens of thousands of hours, that are still not Journeyman. Some of them were around when we voted to make them Journeyman back in around 2005, and nothing was actually done. I know this issue is unknown, and means little to most. But we lost a couple of good shops that employed many full time in the last 15 years, they moved to Kingman and Saint George, so they could still be in proximity to the Las Vegas trade show market.
He added, “I will commend the committee for finally getting MLK Day recognized! Our raise however does not equal inflation, not even close. It’s a good start, but needs to be $5.00 on day one, not $3.00. And notice that our December raises are gone! Regarding vacations, we need to get straight and double time on our vacation pay. Read it and vote what you think is right. For me that’s a no. For you it might be a yes. Either way I would have loved to have the right to have an actual meeting with discussion, so those of us that see all aspects of our industry can share our ideas and concerns with each other. Because together we stand. Together we can make informed decisions. And as a collective, with communication, we are Teamster Strong.”
In Washington, D.C. last week, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien met with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai (pictured right) to discuss how to make trade agreements respect the rights and interests of working people and not just benefit global corporations. “There needs to be a conscience in the process and the Teamsters Union will be that conscience,” O’Brien says, explaining that the Teamsters want to make sure that any future trade deals keep good-paying union jobs in this country and contain enforceable rules that protect workers’ rights.
In San Francisco, the front-office staff at the famed, upscale Le Méridien Hotel, a property of Marriott International, overwhelmingly voted to become members of Teamsters Local 856, joining a growing movement of union hotels in the Bay Area. Founded in 1949, Teamsters Local 856 represents more than 17,000 workers at 50+ hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area, North Bay, Sacramento, and Central Valley communities, including Hyatt, Hilton, and numerous boutique hotels.
“We are proud of the front office staff of the Le Méridien hotel who made their voices heard with a resounding yes to becoming Teamsters,” says Peter Finn, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 856. “Our Local has a proud tradition of representing hotel workers in the Bay Area and the front office staff at Le Méridien are now part of it. We look forward to getting to the bargaining table and winning a strong union contract for these members.”
The 23-member unit of front desk workers, night auditors, bellmen and PBX operators were met with an egregious anti-union campaign with the company hiring a notoriously anti-union law firm. Captive audience meetings and daily one-on-one meetings were held by management to deter people from joining the union, reported workers.
But after the vote, Alfonso Cano, a front-office worker at the Le Méridien, said, “It is a wonderful feeling knowing that the team I work with, and I, will be treated with dignity and respect. We will sleep better knowing that as union members, we can count on having more job security. We’re looking forward to gaining justice, equality, improved working conditions, and benefits. Some of my co-workers have never been union members before and I’m excited they will get to experience being a Teamsters 856 member.”
Boston’s Local 25 was in Charlestown on June 5 for the fourth annual Touch-A-Truck Day (pictured right), held at the Schrafft Center parking lot. More than 25 vehicles participated as families came out to allow their children to “touch the trucks” while in Westbrook, Maine, 
Teamsters Local 340 members (pictured left) marched in the annual “Together Days” parade on June 4 alongside the Joint Council 10 truck. Coming up 
on June 11, Local 63 in Southern California, will be hosting their 13th annual cookout and car show in Rialta.
