Engineers Win Election At FDA Federal Center

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

On Monday August 2, twelve engineers won a union election at Brooks & Brooks Services Inc., joining the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99 at the FDA Federal Center in White Oak, Maryland. The plant is part of a 50-year plan at that location and provides power, steam, and chilled water for the 78-acre facility. Although the union had originally secured a card-check agreement with Brooks & Brooks Services Inc., the company pushed for an election instead but refused to allow an on-site vote, forcing the election to be conducted by mail. “Despite the relatively small size of this unit, it’s a huge victory that gives a foothold in a state-of-the-art plant that will provide good jobs for decades to come,” said IUOE 99 Business Manager Michael Murphy. “We congratulate the employees and welcome them into our union.” The workers won the election by a margin of better than 2:1.
– Essie Ablavsky, AFL-CIO Union Summer Intern