Employees at American Paper Bag (“APB”), a start-up bag manufacturer in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania have overwhelmingly rejected the Teamsters. In a recent National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) representation election, 83% of the company’s employees voted against the union. Above all, the margin of victory speaks to the company’s core values as well as its employees’ loyalty and dedication.
APB retained National Labor Relations Advocates (“NLRA”) after receiving its petition from the NLRB. NLRA’s team of advocates including Jim Allen and RJ Gearding managed the company’s campaign. NLRA celebrates APB’s victory. Likewise, NLRA commends the company and its leadership for the deep commitment to its workforce that aided NLRA’s efforts to secure this landslide victory.
Revolution and Revolutionaries
APB is revolutionizing the paper bag industry. The company has rejected the traditional paper bag manufacturing process that has stood virtually unchanged for 150 years. Their proprietary manufacturing process produces unique designs while creating bags that offer strength, style, and marketing opportunities to its clients. Moreover, the company provides this level of innovation and utility in an environmentally responsible way. APB products can use less paper and their efficient, modern manufacturing processes create a much smaller carbon footprint. Therefore, better bags, better for the environment – quite revolutionary!
Even a casual observance of history demonstrates some clear facts. For instance, revolutions are not leader-driven, they are people-driven. Revolutions start with an idea captured by one individual or a small group while the masses, inspired by the ideas, take action and give power to the ideas.
Better Business – The Idea
APB founder, Ian Robson, brought his idea to America from his experiences in the industry in Europe. Specifically, he found support from the State of Pennsylvania which awarded his fledging company a $1.4 million loan to purchase the necessary equipment to get the business up and running. Robson chose Northeast Pennsylvania as the location of his facility, and it was the hard-working populace he discovered in that region that allowed his revolution to blossom.
Better Business – The Action
These Northeast Pennsylvania employees – “revolutionaries” if you will – embraced these better bags that were better for the environment. Consequently, their skill and dedication quickly paid off for APB as it secured several clients, including some of the largest retailers in the world. Robson’s inspiration and the employees’ dedication to that cause fueled APB’s revolution in the bag industry. That same loyalty and dedication resulted in a tremendous show of support for the company in the NLRB election.
Better Business – The Result
To sum up, a huge shout out and congratulations goes out to APB’s employees for retaining their voice and their ability to speak for themselves. As a result, they created a better business for all. APB can now add to their list – Better Bags, Better for the Environment, manufactured by employees who have created a Better Business.
If your business finds itself in the midst of a union organizing campaign or NLRB election battle – reach out to us today. Just as we helped APB and countless other companies, we can help you. Click here for a free consultation.
