Michael Rodriguez, a utility worker at the City of Pacific, says being part of a union makes his work a lot less difficult. Despite it being a demanding, frequently hazardous occupation, his membership in Teamsters 117 alleviates the work stress that a majority of Americans deal with on daily basis.

Cuando se habla de estrés en el trabajo, me vienen a la mente las ocupaciones gerenciales y ejecutivas, sin embargo, uno de los mayores predictores de estrés en el lugar de trabajo es la falta de control sobre las condiciones de trabajo junto con la alta demanda. La incapacidad de poder opinar sobre las horas de trabajo y las condiciones de empleo tiene profundas consecuencias para la salud, que se traducen en tasas de infarto tres veces superiores a las de una muestra aleatoria. Además, la inseguridad laboral aumenta la mala salud en un increíble 50%, mientras que las largas horas de trabajo contribuyen a aumentar la mortalidad en casi un 20%.

Americans today work longer hours, take less vacation and receive less pay for higher productivity which is coupled with towering rates of stress-related illnesses. In return for an opportunity to earn a living, we often relinquish our ability to have a say in conditions of employment and wages earned. It is the union that brings democracy back to the workplace and gives some of the control back to the workers. This power does not accrue overnight but is built upon years of collective bargaining and building of trust and solidarity among the workers.

Para Rodríguez, construir la unidad valió la pena. "La gente a menudo considera las ciudades pequeñas como un trampolín para otros trabajos con más sueldo y mejores oportunidades", dice. "Pero a lo largo de los años hemos negociado contratos fuertes y los trabajadores se quedan."

"No dejaremos que nadie rompa lo que hemos logrado aquí a través de años de solidaridad."

His co-worker, Bill Brookhart, agrees. “As an individual alone you cannot stand up to the corporation. I have worked in non-unionized places, and there is no guarantee of or ability to negotiate job security, benefits, vacation or sick leave. I’m a diabetic and am insulin dependent. Having a good, union-negotiated health insurance makes a tremendous difference for me.”

Faced with the Supreme Court ruling on Janus, there was no hesitation among City of Pacific employees – every one of them chose to stand together as Teamsters. They have considered the effect that division could have on their contract negotiations and their power at work. The conclusion they came to was unanimous.

"O estás con nosotros o estás fuera", dijo Rodríguez. "No dejaremos que nadie rompa lo que hemos logrado aquí a través de años de solidaridad."