Pittsburgh bikeshare workers with POGOH voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to join the Transport Workers Union of America, the largest union of bikeshare workers nationwide. The decisive vote came quickly after POGOH workers filed to join the TWU last month.
“Today’s victory is a big step forward for POGOH bikeshare workers who want the benefits of a contract and being a part of the country’s largest bikeshare union,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “We’ll now begin the task of securing a critical first contract that locks in quality-of-life improvements and build on the work we’ve done representing Bike Mechanics, Technicians and other workers in cities across the country.”
Workers in Pittsburgh are seeking to join TWU Local 320, which represents bikeshare workers in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles. POGOH workers are currently working in a warehouse that lacks proper heat in the winter, ventilation in the summer, and are seeking better wages. And Pittsburgh bikeshare workers are currently tasked with shoveling snow in the winter without additional pay, unlike TWU-represented workers in New York and Washington, DC.
“We were able to move quickly to achieve victory in Pittsburgh, but now the work begins to draft and ratify a first contract,” said TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza. “I also want to thank the workers in Pittsburgh who wanted to fight for a better workplace and our TWU member-organizers for their hard work.”