ORGANIZING EPES TRANSPORT IN CHESTER

July 13th, 2022 Update

Tentative Contract Agreement Reached!

On July 13, 2022, after seven months of negotiations, Teamsters Local 322 and the members of your contract negotiating committee have reached a tentative contract agreement with EPES Transport. This agreement was unanimously approved by your negotiating committee and the leaders of Teamsters Local 322 and we are excited to recommend a YES vote. This contract contains the following:

3 Year Contract
Annual raises each year of the contract
Paid Sick Leave
Personal Holiday
Pay increase on all Vacations and Holidays
Shutdown Pay
Company supplied uniforms each year
Grievance Process
Weekend work incentive bonus

We will be holding a contract vote Saturday, July 23, 2020, at 10:00am at the Union Hall located at 3705 Carolina Avenue Richmond Virginia, 23222. We will be here to answer any of your questions you may have about the contract, and we will have copies for your review as well. You must be a Member of Teamsters Local 322 in order to vote. If you have co-workers who are not in the union and would like to vote, they may sign up at the door.

April 8, 2022

We have been actively working with the employees of EPES Transport in Chester, VA to get them organized into our local. They reached out to us after being treated unfairly and their employer ignoring their requests for better wages and working conditions. We’re proud to be able to announce that on 11/18/2021 we petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to begin the process of getting them unionized, which includes EPES Transport being formally notified that we are representing them. We are now in the heat of their organization efforts, which will include allowing all EPES Transport employees to vote on joining the union. After the vote is completed, we will begin bargaining for their first contract to get them better wages, better benefits, and have all their employees being treated fairly by their employer.

December 20, 2021

Truck drivers for EPES Transport System in Chester, Va., have voted to join Teamsters Local 322 in Richmond. The 60 drivers work for the regional trucking company hauling everything from tobacco products to cat litter and paper products.

“The workers put together a letter to submit to management detailing their concerns about the poor working conditions. When the letter fell on deaf ears, we began to work with them,” said Brian Peyton, President of Local 322. “We’re happy to welcome these hardworking drivers to the Teamsters.”

The tractor-trailer drivers do not receive overtime pay; have no sick days, which is of particular concern during a global pandemic; have not received any recent cost of living increases; and are not paid when the company is closed for holidays. The conditions have led to problems retaining drivers, putting more strain on the current drivers.

During the organizing campaign, the company held captive audience meetings with the workers in an effort to convince them not to form a union. However, the workers were determined. Only 72 days after they began their organizing drive, the workers had joined Local 322.

“We want to help these workers have a voice and a fair contract. They want to be heard and that’s what we’re going to make sure happens,” said Dwayne Johnson, Local 322 organizer and Recording Secretary.

“I am not only proud to be among the newest members of Teamsters Local 322, but I am honored to be among those who helped lead the charge. Thank you, Dwayne Johnson, for teaching us and guiding us, for your tireless tenacity, your professionalism, honesty, and exemplification of what this organization truly is,” said Patrick Olivier, Organizing Committee Member.