IBB wins landslide organizing vote at Georgia Trojan Battery facility

Workers at Trojan Battery in Sandersville, Georgia, have made it crystal clear through an 89-23 vote: They want a union.

The overwhelming vote in favor of unionizing with the Boilermakers comes after a five-month campaign led by Carlos Brooks, Southeast Organizing Coordinator, M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund and Edwin Allen, Southeast Organizer, M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund.

According to Brooks, Trojan workers were fed up with working conditions and with being grossly underpaid.

“The overall issue was the working conditions,” he said. “They needed a voice.”

Brooks said IBB got the tip to call on the Trojan Battery workers from another Boilermaker, Darryl Brookins, who works for a nearby cement company. Brookins provided the lead through the Boilermakers’ “Organizing Our Future” incentive program, which he had learned about from Brooks. He followed the program’s instructions to provide the lead on Trojan, made the connections within Trojan, assisted with the campaign and saw it through to the successful vote outcome.

During the campaign, Brookins spoke with Trojan workers about how the Boilermakers represents workers, how workers can get information, how contract negotiations work, and he candidly answered their questions.

Brooks said it was also helpful to have recent Trojan Battery wins on the West Coast to prove to Georgia’s Trojan workers the Boilermakers union is the real deal. He said Western States organizers also gave invaluable support to the Southeast’s organizing work.

“I want to say special thanks to Rome Aloise,” he said, highlighting his appreciation for the consultant who works with Western States organizing and stepped in to help.

“This organizing win at Trojan Battery is another exciting victory for the Southeast,” said Jeff Campbell, International Vice President for the Southeast Section.  “Brother Carlos Brooks and Brother Edwin Allen are doing a phenomenal job to grow our organization.”