Don Collette

U-Haul Las Vegas, Nevada International Association of Machinists (IAM)

Don Collette

Don Collette says he knew “the good having a union can get you.” Prior to working at U-Haul, Don worked as a union mechanic for the airlines. He knew being in a union means having decent wages and good benefits, which is why he and co-workers wanted to organize at U-Haul.

The day Don and his co-workers filed for an election to be part of the Machinists union, four workers were fired because of their union activity. “That was illegal, but they did it,” Don said. In the months prior to the election, the company routinely harassed, intimidated and threatened workers. Workers were told they would be fired if they supported the union. They were told the plant would shut down. Amazingly, the majority of workers at U-Haul stood up the company and voted on election-day, almost 2-1, in favor of the union.

But the company wasn’t done fighting. U-Haul contested the election, continued its campaign against the workers and five months later, it fired Don. In total, 42 workers were fired illegally from U-Haul because of their union activity. The National Labor Relations Board found that the company broke the law more than 100 times. In 2005, the Board ordered Don and his co-workers back to work with full back-pay.

As of 2007, Don still doesn’t have his job. “We won every battle, but we lost the war,” said Don.

His wife took another job to support their family, though even with the extra income, they lost their home.

“These companies can do whatever they want,” said Don. “There’s no bite to the laws.”