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Teamster Leaders Meet in Chicago to Support Striking Workers at Waste Management

CHICAGO, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamster leaders from across the country met inChicago today to discuss ongoing labor issues with solid waste giant Waste Management Inc. (WMI). Teamsters Union representatives unanimously passed a resolution of support for the 240 striking workers at WMI inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, promising to "take whatever action necessary" to win the members a strong contract.

General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel led the meeting, calling on local leaders who represent thousands of workers employed at WMI to stand in solidarity behind the members inMilwaukee, the latest targets of this viciously anti-union company.

"Waste Management has shown time and time again that they don't care about worker rights," Keegel said. "They would rather spend millions of dollars to break the will of our members who have been forced out on a picket line by a lockout or strike than provide good wages, benefits and a pension for their workforce."

Keegel was joined by International Vice Presidents Chuck Mack and Fred Gegare and the Director of the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, Bob Morales. Also of note, Terry Hancock, President of Teamsters Local 731 inChicago and Jay Phillips of Local 396 inLos Angeles attended the meeting. Collectively, the 40 attendees at the meeting represent nearly 4,000 members at Waste Management.

"It is important for Waste Management to understand that when they try to hurt even one of our members, they are attacking all of us," Morales said. "We will support our brothers and sisters inMilwaukee and anywhere else that Waste Management tries to violate our members' rights."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women inthe United States,Canada andPuerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters