Members of Teamsters Local 50 who are supporting their union Brothers and Sisters engaged in a labor dispute in Collinsville, IL have not received a paycheck in over a month. The Teamsters are standing in solidarity with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Mechanics employed by Laura Buick GMC located in Collinsville, IL who walked off the job on October 2, 2019.

Teamsters Local 50 members in the employ of Laura Buick GMC have been standing in solidarity with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers mechanics employed by Laura Buick GMC for over a month, and the dispute has taken its toll on the members of Local 50.

When the IAM Mechanics walked off the job, so did all six (6) Teamsters employed by Laura Buick GMC’s warehouse and parts department in a showing of unity and solidarity. Teamsters Local 50 President Pat Nichols said while IAM workers are receiving strike benefits, Local 50 Members are not eligible to receive the same benefits.

“We’ve got six hard working members on the picket line, three weeks prior to Christmas. They have no work and no income while this strike continues,” Nichols said.

At the request of Nichols and the entire Local 50 Executive Board, Teamsters Joint Council 25 is asking its members and Affiliates to assist these members in their time of need, any way they can. Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Terrence J. Hancock said “it is important to present a united front, and have each other’s back in tough situations like these”.

President Hancock said “it is important to present a united front, and have each other’s back in situations like these”.

“It is important to support fellow labor unions in times like these because it demonstrates to employers that we are united in our fight for fair wages and equitable treatment. It could very well be Mechanics one day…then rank-and-file Teamsters the next. If we don’t support each other, who will?” Hancock added.

The IAM says Laura Buick GMC is one of the largest GMC dealers in the country, and that the strike is in regard to the company’s strong arm attempt to take away the members’ defined benefit pension plan and replace it with a 401(k) Plan. Over fifty (50) IAM mechanics are currently employed at Laura Buick GMC facility.

Anyone interested in helping should contact the Offices of IBT Local 50 directly.

Sincere gratitude to all that consider this worthy request.

THANK YOU!!!