The Teamsters make inroads into FedEx! - For the first time in North America, the Teamsters successfully organize workers at FedEx.

VANCOUVER, Sept. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - The 14 warehouse employees at FedEx Freight Canada's Surrey, British Columbia location have chosen to be represented by Teamsters Local Union 31.

The organizing campaign launched last June came to an end yesterday with the issue of a bargaining certificate by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. It's a North American first for the workers of this company. Before this certification the only unionized FedEx employees were the company's US-based pilots.

"I commend these 14 workers for their courage," says Stan Hennessy, International Vice-President and President of Teamsters Local Union 31. "They have all my admiration for having accomplished this North American first."

The workers explained what motivated them to join the union: dismal fringe benefits, lack of pension fund, and lower wages than the industry average. As a reminder, most of the industry's workers are unionized and represented by the Teamsters.

"Most of these new members only work 20 hours a week. How are they supposed to improve their quality of life?" said Stan Hennessy. "They have had enough of living without the slightest safety net!"

Stan Hennessy congratulates the organizing committee as well as his local staff and the team at Teamsters Canada's office in Vancouver for this organizing victory.

The Teamsters represents 115,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.

SOURCE: Teamsters Canada

Stephane Lacroix, Communications Department / Service des communications Teamsters Canada, Skype: teamsterslacroix, Cell: 514-609-5101; Facebook.com/TeamstersCanada, Twitter.com/TeamstersCanada, Teamsters.ca