Workers at Zep distribution center in Upper Macungie vote to join union

Workers at the Zep Inc. distribution center in Upper Macungie Township have voted to unionize, something that is becoming a trend within the Lehigh Valley's booming distribution and warehousing sector.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Laborers' International Union of North America said the workers voted Friday for the union during balloting conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. Chuck Clarke, a representative for the union's mid-Atlantic region, said there were 17 workers eligible to vote and the tally was 11-3 in favor of joining LIUNA.

Officials from Zep, which makes maintenance and cleaning products for commercial, industrial, institutional and consumer markets, did not immediately provide a comment. Zep, based in Atlanta, was taken private in mid-2015 by New York private-equity firm New Mountain Capital.

At the Upper Macungie distribution center, on Nestle Way, the union said workers manage the distribution of a variety of Zep products, including wholesale and retail cleaning chemicals. According to the union, employees at the center were concerned over a lack of pay increases and their long-term status as temporary workers.

"We work to help make Zep the successful company it is," worker Aneudy Rodriguez said in the release. "As workers, we're crucial to the safe and efficient distribution of the company's products. All we want is family-supporting pay, stable employment status and respect."

Advance Auto Parts workers in Lehigh County reject union

LIUNA previously tried to unionize about 515 workers at the Advance Auto Parts warehouse in Weisenberg Township, but in early April employees rejected joining the union.

The majority of Lehigh Valley distribution centers are nonunion, Gregg Potter, president of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council, told The Morning Call in late March. But there are a few that have unions, including one operated by True Value in Allentown and at least one Americold Cold Storage location in Upper Macungie Township.

In the release Tuesday, however, Clarke indicated the union's work in the Lehigh Valley isn't done.

"We will continue to reach out to warehouse and distribution workers in the region to help them improve their lives," Clarke said.

Source: The Morning Call