AFGE Wins Union Election to Represent Coast Guard Employees in California
June 12, 2015
AFGE this week won a union election to represent wage grade and professional employees at theLos Angeles/Long Beach Coast Guard command at Terminal Island (San Pedro), California. The employees voted 10-2 to be represented by AFGE.
AFGE ran the election campaign on the message “United as One with AFGE” to emphasize the importance of being united to fight back against all federal cuts that affect every federal employee. During the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) period, employee activists and an AFGE organizer worked together to reach out to every employee to make sure they had received their ballot and to answer questions and address concerns.
“The organizing campaign was run on employees having a voice in their working conditions and having clearly stated processes to discuss and resolve workplace issues through a collective bargaining agreement and union representation,” said AFGE National Organizer Jorge Perez. “A lack of workers’ involvement in these matters motivated employees to begin their organizing efforts.”
The 19 employees, including three who are stationed in San Diego, will be part of AFGE Local 1533. They provide a wide variety of services in support of USCG activities. They are welders, electricians, maritime machinery mechanics, crane operators, carpenter and painters. They are also professionals working in Information Technology, Logistics, and Health Care.
