Chris Pick, a maintenance worker at the facility, described the organizing process as a test of resolve against high-level DOC management tactics. The workers are tasked with maintaining safety and infrastructure within the Level IV correction facility, a role that James Heeren, a business agent at Local 120, identified as essential to daily prison operations. Heeren noted that the union now intends to prioritize securing a contract that reflects the demanding nature of their labor.
In section Releases
South Dakota State Penitentiary Maintenance Workers Join Teamsters
Maintenance workers at the South Dakota State Penitentiary voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 120, marking a significant victory against administrative pressure. The staff, responsible for the upkeep of the state's largest correctional facility, chose to unionize to secure an enforceable contract and gain a collective voice in workplace negotiations.
Teamsters Local 120 represents more than 15,000 workers across five states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. This organizing win follows an ongoing push by the union to expand its footprint in the region, bringing facility staff into the fold to standardize treatment and working conditions.
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