WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Workers from one of the largest employers in the Des Moines metro are joining a national fight to unionize.
A local group of Wells Fargo employees are encouraging coworkers to join in on their unionization efforts.
Union organizers Mac Siruta and Joe Hertz spent time this past week talking to colleagues as they arrived for work at the West Des Moines campus.
"Our priority for unionizing is to increase pay and working conditions," Siruta said.
Siruta, who works in the Claims Assistance Center, and Hertz posted flyers around the campus Wednesday, advertising what they say are the benefits of a worker union.
"The current climate is ripe for unionizing," Siruta told Local 5. "Wells Fargo workers often don't feel like they have a voice that they can speak to corporate and solve these problems."
Hertz believes that the company prefers a more direct approach with employees that most workers disagree with.
“I believe Wells Fargo wants to divide and conquer. They don’t want us to be acting collectively and that’s where our power lies," said Hertz, who has been working with the company for over 20 years.
Other Wells Fargo workers from coast to coast made similar efforts this week, attempting to signify unity nationwide.
"We've got a union vote happening all the way up in Alaska, coming up before the end of the year," Siruta said. "It's possible here in Iowa.”
Public records show that Wells Fargo has laid off over 1200 Iowa-based employees since 2009. For this reason, understaffing and job security are both key concerns for employees.
“They've got more work to do than workers to do it, and those roles need filled," Siruta told Local 5.
Branch workers in Florida, New Mexico and Alaska have already filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board. In both New Mexico and Alaska, employees will vote on unionization later this month.
Now, Siruta and others on board want to get the signatures they need to do the same. He said 30% of the workers at a given branch must sign to request an election for unionization.
CEO's from Wall Street's biggest banks testified in front of the Senate Banking Committee Wednesday.
When asked about the unionization efforts, Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf told the committee:
"It's best we have a direct relationship with employees … we do intend to exercise our right to speak with them to make sure that they make an informed decision.”