Congratulations to 600 Teamsters at Washington Gas who defeated givebacks and won a new contract that includes 14% wage increases, a $1,000 lump sum payment, new disciplinary protections, and rock-solid job security.

The company demanded givebacks, including eliminating No Layoff Protections, and the same 1% pay increases that management got.

"We got information in the hands of our members with regular text and email updates. We formed a Contract Action Team to mobilize Teamster to Teamster," Reed said.

By the end of the contract fight, 60 percent of the local's 600 members were attending union meetings. Eighty percent of the members participated in the strike vote with a 97 percent Yes Vote.

When management sees participation like that, they know that members are united and serious.

The 14 percent in raises will boost members' pay an average of more than $12,000 over the life of the contract, with $15,578 for top-scale workers—not including overtime.

It wasn't always like this in Local 96. Three years ago, Reed ran for local union office at the head of the New Beginning Slate.

It's one thing to elect new officers. It's another thing to rebuild union power. Congratulations to Local 96 members and their leaders for defeating givebacks, winning a strong contract, and revitalizing their local union.