ATLANTA—Workers at Liberty Tire Recycling L.L.C.'s Atlanta location voted Oct. 15 to join the Teamsters Local 728, according to a news release issued by the union. The final tally was not released by the union, but the Teamsters did note that workers voted in favor or unionization by a 3-1 margin.
In a previous release, the Teamsters noted that 20 drivers and helpers were to vote on the unionization question. That vote was to be conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
"This win means a lot to me and my co-workers," Luis Herrera, who has spent 25 years as a driver for Liberty Tire, said in a statement. "We fought hard for this day, and we are very happy to be Teamsters. Now that we have our union, we will continue fighting to address the issues that the company has been ignoring for years. It's time for this company to treat its workers right."
Herrera was among those serving on the worker-led union organizing committee. In a news release, Teamsters said that the drivers and helpers had reached out to the union in early September, seeking support for issues such as improved working conditions, higher wages and better benefits.
In support of the unionization effort, the group held a rally Oct. 7 in the Atlanta area. Dozens of Atlanta political leaders, the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council and the Georgia AFL-CIO were invited to attend the event, held outside the company's Metro Atlanta facility.
Liberty Tire, as of press time, has not commented on the matter.