News at Frito-Portland

[Dipstick]

This was reported by the Oregonian newspaper today.

Area Frito-Lay workers toss out Teamsters
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A majority of 240 sales and warehouse workers at Frito-Lay in Oregon and Southwest Washington have voted to leave the Teamsters union, federal labor officials confirmed Monday.
The workers voted 141-97 against representation by four Teamsters locals, said Linda Davidson, acting agent in charge of the National Labor Relations Board in Portland.
The election took place March 22 at sales and distribution centers in Portland, Tualatin, Warrenton, Eugene, Salem and Kelso, Wash, she said. The agency counted ballots Monday.
Robert W. P***, a Frito-Lay employee from Beaverton who petitioned Feb. 12 to decertify the union, declined comment this afternoon, citing company policy requiring employees to refer media calls to corporate officials.
Aurora G, a spokeswoman for the Dallas, Texas-based company, said Pool made an "independent decision" to seek decertification. Frito-Lay North America is a division of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo.
"We believe our employees have the right to decide for themselves whether their workplace is represented by a union," G******** said. "In this case, our employees voted to decertify."
The vote becomes final April 3 unless Teamsters officials file a protest by April 2, Davidson said. Officials with Teamsters locals 58, 206, 305 and 324 did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
-- Brent Hunsberger