Workers employed at an AutoZone location in White Plains (New York) have made history by voting to join United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 259, making them the first store at the country’s largest Auto Parts Retailer to organize for a fair contract. Staff cited concerns around low pay and unfair working conditions as core motivators for joining together for a stronger voice on the job. LaborLab - a Non-Profit Labor Rights Watchdog Organization - and Workers identified at least 11 Corporate Executives, along with several Regional and District Managers, who appeared at the store leading up to the vote. “It’s like ‘hitting a fly with a mallet,’” Local 259 Vice President Mike DiGuiseppe said. “They’ve had ‘more Corporate Executive Union-Busters in the store than Workers.’” David Valencia, who works at the AutoZone store, added: “Our goal is to get compensation, job security, just more things that closely reflect the value that we know that we bring to the company. We’re not getting close to what we’re worth. There is no bargaining when you’re alone. They’re only going to bargain when you’re together. So we don’t have a choice. Either we’re going to live in poverty and not be able to pay our bills or we’re going to do this.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: AutoZone worker says he was fired after Westchester store won first union election: report