Workers at Classic Party Rentals ratify first UFCW Local 135 contract

*If you’re having a party or special event, you can rent anything you need from Classic Party Rentals in San Diego — from tables and silverware to dance floors and tents.  And now, you can rent it knowing that your money is going to a UFCW shop.

As of July 15, employees of Classic Party Rentals work under a UFCW Local 135 contract.

In June 2009, the workers approached UFCW Local 135 to see what kind of pay and benefits increases they would get by unionizing.  “As soon as they learned about the benefits, the only question they had was, ‘What do we have to do to join the union?’” Local 135 Organizing Director German Ramirez recalled.

Organizing committee formed

Throughout the summer, the union circulated authorization cards for employees to sign and an organizing committee was formed.  In September, a union representation vote at the company resulted in an overwhelming “yes.” UFCW Local 135 now was able to bargain with the company on behalf of Classic Party Rental’s 54 employees.

President Mickey Kasparian negotiated the contract with the company from November 2009 to July 2010. “We built this contract from the ground up,” Mickey said. “The workers never had sick pay, jury duty, funeral leave or even scheduled days off. Today they have all of those and many other improvements.”*

Ratification vote

On July 14, a ratification vote was held and the contract was approved overwhelmingly. At that moment, the workers of Classic Party Rentals became part of UFCW Local 135, with benefits retroactive to July 5.

“Even though we hadn’t yet reached agreement on a contract, we had been working with the company to secure our new members’ jobs from both layoffs and discipline,” Mickey said. “We have been able to establish a good relationship with Classic Party Rentals which, of course, benefits our members.”  “The whole organizing process was fantastic because the employees wanted the union,” German said. “They decided to stand up for their rights and demand a better quality of life for themselves and their families.”

Now, the workers at Classic Party Rentals have their own reason to celebrate.