Kentucky workers move to decertify Teamsters Local 89 at two companies

Chris Smith, an employee at IMI Kentucky in Scottsville, and Kenneth Moore, who works at Builders FirstSource in Louisville, have each filed petitions with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to remove Teamsters Local 89 as their representative. Smith and Moore received free legal assistance from attorneys with the National Right to Work Foundation.

To begin the process of removing a union under federal labor law, workers must collect signatures from at least 30% of employees in their bargaining unit. Both Smith and Moore were able to secure this level of support among their coworkers. As a result, the NLRB scheduled secret ballot elections to determine whether Teamsters Local 89 would continue as the exclusive bargaining representative.

At IMI Kentucky, employee support for removing the union was so strong that Teamsters officials chose to disclaim representation rather than proceed with a vote. The NLRB Regional Director certified the very next day that IMI Kentucky employees are no longer represented by Teamsters Local 89. At Builders FirstSource in Louisville, the process is still ongoing.