Jonathan Light, President and Business Agent of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 8, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to share insights into the contract negotiations between Penn State University and Local 8 members.
Since being elected as President and Business Agent in 2006, Light has represented 2,500 members across Penn State's campuses.
The recent contract negotiations at Penn State marked a historic achievement for Teamsters Local 8. Light and his team adopted an approach based on engaging members directly to try to foster a sense of unity and collective strength. This strategy included distributing shirts with the slogan "We Are Ready" —a play on Penn State’s “We Are Penn State” cheer—to create a buzz and maintain pressure on the university.
Initially, Penn State offered minimal raises, but after a strategic strike vote and external pressure, the university agreed to a 20 percent increase over four years, with 7 percent upfront. This contract is the most favorable in the Local's history, Light said. He added that this result serves as an example of the power of organized labor and member engagement.
With the new contract secured, Light is turning his attention to organizing the unorganized staff at Penn State. He believes the time is ripe for expanding union representation, as many unorganized workers express a desire for a stronger voice in their workplace. Light is optimistic about the potential for growth, aiming to empower more workers to stand up for their rights and secure better working conditions.
To learn more about Jonathan Light's efforts and the future of Teamsters Local 8, listen to the full episode of America's Workforce Union Podcast.