Holy pepperoni! Pizza drivers form a union - Experts: This could be a model for fast food workers wanting to organize
Submitted on Sat, 09/23/2006 - 12:04am
Mark Damron, spokesman for Industrial Workers of the World, said the prospects for unionizing fast-food employees are encouraging because older people are taking service industry jobs that were traditionally held by younger workers.
“As these people move into those jobs, they have higher expectations. You are going to see more agitation and expectations among middle-aged men who have been downsized and are now working as baristas or short-order cooks,” he said.
Associated Press - Updated: 2:34 p.m. PT Sept 22, 2006
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Eleven Domino’s employees hoping to make a little more dough and get a bigger slice of the profits have formed the nation’s first union of pizza delivery drivers.
The American Union of Pizza Delivery Drivers won recognition from the National Labor Relations Board over the summer as the bargaining agent for drivers at a Pensacola franchise.
The union organizing drive was started by Jim Pohle, a 37-year-old Domino’s driver who said he delivers pizzas because he likes to sleep late, smoke on the job and listen to the radio.