After a hard-fought organizing campaign, workers at two Santa Fe Springs, California, Trojan Battery facilities voted Aug. 20 in favor of unionizing with the Boilermakers. Out of 306 workers in the facilities, 282 voted, with a final of 151 to 131 for unionization. The victory was the second to take place on the same day for Western States organizers, who also celebrated a favorable vote at Mountain Cement Company in Laramie, Wyoming.
Trojan Battery has existed for 100 years, operating nonunion for a full century—until now. Before the Boilermaker win, there were four prior unsuccessful organizing attempts by other unions.
“As a union, this really plants a flag in the West for the Boilermakers, with our gains at NASSCO last year, and wins Mountain Cement Co. and now this,” said Western States Director of Organizing Manny Valenzuela. “It’s just really good for all Boilermaker members and for organized labor.”
Valenzuela noted organizers faced an especially steep uphill battle to build trust and win over workers. For starters, workers who weathered the previous failed organizing attempts had a bad taste for unions due to circumstances surrounding those initiatives.
Trojan Battery worker Cesar Lopez was among those who were skeptical of the Boilermakers—at first. Lopez, who is a burner and machine operator, has worked for Trojan for over 24 years. Before signing his card, he asked his son to research the union for him. His son came back with his research and advised his dad to sign on, citing the good work Boilermakers do throughout the U.S. and Canada. He noted the issues the union faced in addressing past leadership corruption; but, he told Lopez, “they resolved the problems, and they’re doing good things.” Lopez said that motivated his decision to sign his card and get involved with the campaign.
Another challenge organizers fought against was heightened U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. With much of the Trojan Battery worker population being Latino and a surge in ICE activity in the area and nationwide, the vital door-knock visits from organizers to speak one-on-one with workers were especially hard to come by. Legally authorized workers and U.S.-born citizens alike were afraid to open their doors to strangers, fearful that ICE agents, detainment or other consequences might be on the other side.
“It took a lot of extra work to get this campaign done,” said Valenzuela. Organizers began in March, along with several other Southern California facilities. In June, the team decided to focus solely on Trojan Batteries.
Western States organizers, plus several Local 92 (Los Angeles) Boilermakers from NASSCO shipyard stepped up efforts together. While the L-92 members lent a hand they also learned valuable organizing skills that will benefit their internal organizing efforts at NASSCO, which is an open shop. Those skills will also transfer to prepare them for upcoming contract negotiations.
“You can put someone in a classroom setting to learn about organizing—and that teaches a lot, but getting out and working alongside seasoned organizers is a whole different level of learning,” Valenzuela said. “Plus, the Trojan workers got to interact with Boilermakers. So it wasn’t just professional organizers, but real rank-and-file Boilermakers speaking with them. That made a difference in earning their trust. In the end it was close, but we got it done.”
L-92 BM-ST Nick Garcia said it was gratifying to work on the campaign, learn and witness the movement grow in favor of the union.
“It’s a huge win for us and a step in the right direction. Three hundred members is a great step forward for our local,” he said. “It was a joy to see the workers and organizers fight for the union and convince people—really up to the minute.”
Garcia noted that Lopez, the worker whose son researched the Boilermakers union for him, became so enthusiastic about unionizing, his zeal rubbed off on his daughter, who is in a completely unrelated line of work. She joined her dad to help the cause.
“This means a lot to me,” Lopez said of the unionization victory. “Finally, my co-workers and I will be able to negotiate for the working conditions we deserve.”
Valenzuela said the Western States wins set the tempo in the area.
“The time is now,” he said. “If you don’t organize, you die.”
