By Samuel Messidor
Werner trucking corporation has fired four workers in Erie, PA for unionizing, according to a complaint filed by the Teamsters union on September 22. The four workers were fired the same day the drivers voted to unionize, a blatant case of retaliation.
Werner, a large trucking corporation, employs 14,000 people, of which 10,000 are drivers. Only 18 Werner drivers in Erie and 26 in New Jersey have voted to unionize. Nevertheless, the action has frightened the company’s CEO enough to visit the Erie site to give a talk in-person about the detriments of unionization.
The corporation acquired ECM, a smaller trucking company, in 2021. Since Werner became their new boss, drivers have felt the effects of monopolization tightening the screws of exploitation, with lower pay and the corporation moving to irregular shifts.
In New Jersey, Werner reduced hours and gave irregular shifts to 26 unionizing drivers.
The corporation has slashed pay by reducing yearly raises and has shifted drivers to weekend work which disqualifies them from overtime pay, prompting the drivers to struggle for their rights and for better working conditions.
