Los Angeles Times (09/04/15) Shan Li

Employees at the Milpitas, CA, recycling plant that was central to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board’s recent landmark ruling have voted in favor of being represented by the Teamsters union. Houston-based Browning-Ferris Industries had used a subcontractor, Leadpoint Business Services, to staff its recycling plant in Milpitas. The Teamsters had tried to organize the plant’s employees, and wanted to bring Browning-Ferris to the table as well. The case was appealed to NLRB, which decided last week that Browning-Ferris, which is part of Republic Services Inc., was a “joint employer” even though it didn’t directly hire or have immediate control over workers hired by Leadpoint.

“We’re elated because we can bargain for all workers,” says Ron Herrera, director of the Teamsters’ solid waste and recycling division. In the waste industry, temporary and permanent employees often work together.