Teamsters Turn Up Heat at Fairway-GMC, Dealership Loses Its Cool

Teamster Truck Alerts Customers to Fairway Practices as Managers Fume

JENKINTOWN, Pa., May 22 -- Twenty-five employees who work as service technicians, service writers and auto parts personnel at Fairway-GMC Automotive in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania marked their third week on strike today. The workers marked the occasion by cheering a 24-foot long Pennsylvania Teamster truck adorned with posters outlining unfair labor practices at Fairway-GMC.

"We announced this week that we were turning up the heat on Fairway's rogue owner Lillie Biagas, her family and GMC," said John Schmitt, Business Agent for Teamsters Local 500 in Philadelphia. "We have a lawful right to picket this establishment until they treats us fairly and put our members back to work. It's unfortunate that the owners chose to come out in public today and embarrass themselves and General Motors."

The 25 employees were unilaterally fired by owner Lillie Biagas and her family on May 8 and it appears her illegal actions are sanctioned by GM's corporate managers.

Unfortunately the Abington Police Department was dispatched twice today to calm tensions as the dealership's owners and security team stood roadside and screamed profanities and made inappropriate gestures to insight Teamster members and their driver.

"This strike will end when GMC or Lillie Biagas chooses to pay our members the wages they have earned and return them to their jobs," Schmitt continued. "These workers are trained, qualified professionals who deserve to be treated fairly."

Teamsters Local 500 represents more than 2,100 hard-working men and women throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.