Members elected the 92 Teamsters United Slate to lead Teamsters Local 92 in Canton, Ohio. The election capped off a grassroots campaign that united members from UPS, Republic Services, Pepsi and other employers.
Local 92 represents approximately 2,000 members across dozens of employers and spans from Northeast Ohio to the WV and KY borders.
President-Elect Damian Kungle and Secretary-Treasurer-Elect Ed Barkley-Hanson met at a General Membership Meeting a few years ago, and connected over their disappointment in low member participation.
“We could never make quorum,” said Barkey-Hanson. “After seeing each other there month after month we started sharing ideas about how to turn things around.”
Kungle had built a network with other leaders at UPS, including Trustee-Elect Aaron Cottrell, a package car steward in New Philadelphia.
Barkley-Hanson, a route-sales driver at Frito-Lay, had been networking with other bakery and beverage drivers and merchandisers.
In the spring, they began holding organizing meetings at a local public library, finding common issues across industries and identifying leaders across the local’s dozens of barns. By June they were ready to kick off their election campaign.
Before long, the group had met leaders at a number of shops. Their message of member involvement, transparency and militancy resonated.
“When the Teamsters United came to campaign at my barn, other members told me I should get in touch with Damian to find out what it was all about,” said Recording-Secretary-Elect James Riffle. Teamsters United organized a meet and greet for Republic Teamsters, and dozens of members attended.
“Our message was member empowerment and involvement,” said Tony Spano, a UPS package car driver who took time off to campaign for the Teamsters United slate. “That message resonated with guys at Schwebels Bakery, Nickels Bakery, Republic Services, Pepsi, pretty much everywhere we went.”
After a successful campaign cookout in September, they were ready to nominate their slate and transition to Get Out the Vote.
“The member-to-member network we built was activated and ready to organize,” said Kungle. The results speak for themselves. “We’re ready to hit the ground running!”