A Bangor, Maine, First Student bus driver was fired for her Union Support, in the words of Teamster organizer Shelley Goodman:
This driver,who lead the charge in unionizing First Student Bangor had a record that was flawless. Then on the first day of the 07-08 school year she's called into the managers office only to be given a Letter of Termination with no explanation!!
The Bangor drivers had already voted to be Teamsters, and another vote is coming up in the Augusta yard on September 11. Say's Shelley:
The contract manager fears what will happen to her if Augusta goes union like Bangor did! So what did she do - she fired the woman who was NOT afraid of the company or the contract manager. The woman who had seen and taken all she could from this company. She knew it was time to put a stop to this type of treatment to she and her fellow workers. And not just in Bangor, but throughout the country in these First Student bus yards.
More from Shelley and ways you can get involved below the flip.
The rest of this diary is in Shelley's words, cross-posted from the School Bus Workers United web site.
When contract managers fire workers who were PRO-UNION during the organizing campaigns, do they really think this will make the Teamsters disappear and their workers not secure a contract?
The recent firings of several workers from First Student, must have contract managers everywhere scrambling to see how they can get rid of those who have been active in unionizing at their locations. By doing this they have a false sense of hope that workers will backdown and stop organizing to become Teamsters.
Workers, parents, school officials across America need to stand up with these employees because they are losing some very good bus drivers, monitors/aide and mechanics only because they were not afraid to exercise their right to form a union.
When workers, with impeccable records, are given Letter of Termination because they wanted better wages, benefits, respect, and a voice in the workplace it is time to ask yourself the question: Shouldn't we stand behind school bus workers, who help by carrying this nation's future on their buses, demand these privatized bus companies, such as First Student, begin allowing these employees their rights to organize?
Not only do union contracts help secure better pay and better economic benefits but it can make sure the buses these workers use daily are serviced and maintained properly for the safety of the students who ride them and other vehicles on the roads. A contract can give the driver the right to refuse to use unsafe equipment.
It's time everyone stands behind these people who have so much responsibility!
Tell these companies to stop taking away these worker's civil and human rights.
Support school bus workers who have begun standing up for themselves.
When new bus companies underbid in a district and gobble up these lucrative contracts, school districts everywhere need to include in their Bid Specifications, "Whoever secures this contract will maintain the school bus workers and honor their bargaining unit".
The government began the program a few years ago called "No child left behind". The government now needs to step in and start a program "No school bus worker left behind". Maybe then companies like First Student would HAVE to pay these workers better wages, allow them their rights under the law and most of give them the respect we all deserve.
Take Action! We are organizing community leaders and activists to stand up for these drivers across the United States. Thanks to Kossaks like Shockwave we are growing a movement of parents, community leaders and labor organizers to change the lives of these workers. Help us.
- Sign up for the Teamsters + Kossaks volunteer listserv at schoolbusworker(at)yahoo(dot)com
- Join the Community Action bulletin board to start a movement in the Augusta area.
- Download (1.65 MB PDF) I SUPPORT My Child's School Bus Driver post card and give it to your First Student bus driver to show you support their efforts to start a union.
First Student organizers and workers show management the "unofficial state bird of New Jersey" during the first Workers Congress in Princeton earlier this month. After reading my blog on the meeting and workers' quotes, you'll share their sentiment.