Board recognizes Teamsters for bilingual specialists and full‑time building security after verifying counts

The South Bend school board voted to recognize Teamsters Local 364 as the bargaining representative for two employee groups after a multi‑hour discussion about card counts and membership definitions.

John D., a Teamsters Local 364 organizer, told the board that two employee groups sought representation: building security staff and bilingual education specialists. "We have 29 that have signed cards," John D. said during public comment when describing the security group, and he reported nine signed cards for bilingual educational specialists — roughly 75 percent of that smaller unit, the organizer said.

Trustees moved to add recognition of the representation request as agenda item 9.09. For the bilingual education specialists — a small group the union said included about 11–12 people with nine cards signed — trustees voted to recognize Teamsters Local 364 as the representative; the motion carried with six votes in favor and one abstention.

Recognition for building security prompted more questions. Board members asked staff to confirm the unit’s total headcount and whether part‑time employees should be included in the unit size. After staff clarified that the relevant count the board would use in this case was the district’s full‑time building security roster (reported as 54 full‑time staff) and that the 29 signed cards represented a majority of that full‑time group, trustees voted to recognize the Teamsters as representative for full‑time building security staff. Board discussion documented concerns about stale rosters, part‑time versus full‑time eligibility and the need to verify counts before recognition.

The board emphasized that the votes at the meeting recognized union representation only; any subsequent contract terms, retroactive pay or bargaining details would be negotiated through the collective‑bargaining process and would return to the board as appropriate.

A number of security staff and other employees addressed trustees during public comment, describing workplace concerns and asking for representation. Several board members urged organizers and staff to confirm card counts and employee lists; trustees said they would revisit any questions about who is included in a bargaining unit before accepting representation requests.

Outcome: the board recorded recognition of Teamsters Local 364 for bilingual education specialists (6‑0‑1 recorded as six yeas, one abstention) and then recognition for full‑time building security staff (carried by the board after verification and specifying full‑time staff only).