Archeologists are First in Their Industry
to Form a Union
SALT
LAKE CITY, April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Archeologists at SWCA Environmental Consultants in
Salt Lake City have voted
overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 222.
"Local 222 is excited to welcome these new members to the
ranks," said Spencer Hogue,
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 222. "These are truly a unique group
of workers. They ensure our environment, history, and cultural
heritage are protected when development happens in some of the most
remote and rugged areas in Utah
and the surrounding states. These front-line workers are
hardworking, college educated, and dedicated to their industry—and
yet, they barely survive because of the poor pay and lack of
meaningful benefits. It's about time their employer shows them the
respect that they deserve."
"For decades, archeological technicians and leads in the CRM
industry have sat around the campfire and talked about
unionization," said Freeman
Stevenson, a field archeologist at SWCA. "I voted for the
Teamsters to help show others that it can be done. It's time for
archeologists to receive better pay, benefits, and working
conditions that reflect their hard work and dedication to the
environment. The way we can achieve this is by coming together as
workers to form a union and hold our industry accountable."
The archeological field crew at SWCA Environmental Consultants'
Salt Lake City office are the
first archeologists within the private sector Cultural Resource
Management industry to successfully win a union election. They
overcame months of union busting, staying united and never
wavering.
"I'm ecstatic about our election vote," said Sariah Batt, an archeologist at SWCA. "The
companies in our industry have a history of exploiting their
literal boots-on-the-ground laborers, and I'm excited to see us
have protections going forward."
Teamsters Local 222 serves more than 4,500 members working for
35 employers across the state of Utah. For more information, visit
Teamsterslocal222.org.
Contact:
Matt McQuaid, (202)
624-6877
mmcquaid@teamster.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Local 222