Teamsters come back for another shot at Novartis

Buoyed by one NLRB victory against Novartis Corp., Teamsters Local 120 filed an election petition Jan. 18 to represent 270 workers at the St. Louis Park plant of the Swiss-based multinational.

The Teamsters then backed up the petition with a rally outside the plant, a march into company offices – and by filing charges that Novartis is again violating labor law in response to its workers’ organizing efforts.

The renewed organizing drive follows the October 2001 reinstatement of a Novartis technician who was fired three years ago for trying to organize fellow workers at the plant. The firing stopped the organizing drive in its tracks.

However, the National Labor Relations Board found Novartis guilty of violating labor law and ordered the employee – a 13-year veteran – rehired with full back pay and seniority. The victory reignited the organizing drive – and reignited Novartis’ anti-union tactics, according to workers and Teamsters officials.

‘They’re using every underhanded trick they can,’ one worker said, including interrogating workers and threatening terminations and loss of benefits if workers vote for the union.

Local 120’s latest unfair labor practice charges against Novartis say the threats and tactics are illegally interfering with workers’ right to organize.

‘Novartis already broke the law,’ said Brad Slawson Sr., vice president of Local 120. ‘Once is enough.’

A couple of dozen demonstrators braved the coldest day of the winter and ignored newly installed ‘No Trespassing’ signs to hammer home that point. They marched into the company’s human resources department – chanting ‘Obey the law’ and ‘We’re here to fight for workers rights’ – before leaving at the request of security officers.

‘It may be cold out here, but it will be a cold day in hell before we give up on these workers,’ said Jeff Farmer, organizer for Minnesota Teamsters Joint Council 32.

Other speakers included Hennepin County commissioner Peter McLaughin; Minnesota Teamsters president Tom Keegel; and members of recently organized Teamster bargaining units of court reporters and at U.S. Foodservice.

Novartis manufactures special nutritional foods, supplements and drinks, primarily for medical providers. The St. Louis Park plant also produces Ovaltine under contract.

From the Jan. 30, 2002, issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission. The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: <a href="mailto:mailto:advocate@mtn.org “>mailto:advocate@mtn.org

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