The Teamsters want to organize downtown Cleveland's bike messengers but say companies are illegally thwarting their attempt.

Teamsters Local 407, which represents truck drivers, filed a complaint on Friday with the National Labor Relations Board against Quicksilver Messenger Delivery Service.

The complaint alleges that the Macedonia company fired messenger Teighlor O'Leary because O'Leary advocated joining the union.

Alex Adams, president of Local 407, said another NLRB complaint will be filed this week concerning another messenger, also fired, who worked for a different company.

Quicksilver owner Henry Holtkamp said O'Leary was an independent contractor, not an employee, and as such could not be fired.

"There are a few things within his contract that give us the power to terminate his contract, and he was guilty of one of those things," Holtkamp said.

Holtkamp also said it seemed "a little odd" that the messengers were trying to unionize "since they choose to be independent businessmen."

"That sort of flies in the face of what unions are all about, to my way of thinking," he said.

O'Leary could not be reached for comment.