This was the fourth attempt by the workers to organize into the Teamsters. The first came in 1993 soon after the company closed up its unionized operations in Philadelphia and opened up here with significantly lower wages.

Management campaigned aggressively for a "no" vote against the union, distributing numerous flyers. The vote was 318 in favor of the union and 267 against.

A number of workers coming off first shift at the warehouse were excited about the union victory. Several mentioned low wages and excessive overtime as motivations for gaining union organization.

The warehouse is a separate company from the retail giant that it services, Sears and Roebuck. The Wilkes-Barre facility handles 25 percent of all Sears merchandise, according to George Vitanovec, president of Teamsters Local 401. It is one of seven such facilities. The other six are nonunion.  
 
 
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