Taxi Drivers Win 60-Day Strike at Yellow Checker Star Transportation!

LAS VEGAS, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Taxi drivers represented by the Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees Union (ITPEU)/OPEIU Local 4873 have won their sixty-day strike at Yellow Checker Star Transportation (YCS) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new contract includes an increase in the drivers' share of the meter, reinstatement of eligibility for the four-day work week of 12 hours per day and 10-hour per day shifts, increases in annual bonuses and other benefits.

In all, the union negotiated sixteen wage and benefit changes to the collective bargaining agreement.

Representatives from the union and YCS will sign the contract tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 2) at 9 a.m. (PST) at the YCS Corporate Headquarters at 5225 W. Post Road, Las Vegas.

"I'm extremely proud of the fact that we have the loyal support of so many drivers, all of whom are the heart and soul of this struggle," said OPEIU International President Michael Goodwin.  "These drivers, although enduring a great deal of personal hardship, stood together and proved that through solidarity and collective bargaining, workers can improve their quality of life."

"The drivers stood strong during a very difficult strike, and now have a contract that brings the 1,800 drivers employed by YCS the respect and dignity they deserve," said ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873 President Dennis R. Arrington.  "We fought back against the companies' attempts to force senior drivers to work five or six days per week, at 60 and 72 hours.  And all of the striking drivers will return to work at the same time on Thursday, May 2."

OPEIU gratefully acknowledges the support of the International Association of Machinists (IAM), Culinary Workers Union Local 266/UNITEHERE, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Seafarers International Union (SIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Communication Workers of America (CWA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Transportation Communication Union (TCU) and American Income Life Insurance Company (AIL) for their generous support and counsel during this prolonged strike.

Appreciation is also given to International President Emeritus Doug Dority of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and to Nevada State AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Danny Thompson for their participation, support and counsel during the strike.

OPEIU also appreciates that several organizations sent letters in support of the union to YCS, including CWA, Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFSCME, American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), IATSE, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), and the Iron Workers.

Finally, OPEIU thanks the United Labor Agency of Nevada (ULAN), which facilitated the distribution of hardship funds to striking drivers.

The sixty-day strike began on March 3, 2013 and ended on May 1, 2013.

ABOUT ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873 
In addition to the taxi drivers in Las Vegas, ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873 represents more than 13,000 workers on military installations and federal buildings throughout the United States and Puerto Rico under the Service Contract Act.

SOURCE Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO (OPEIU)