WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 IL-TeamsterBusDrivers
First Student Workers Vote for a Voice in the Workplace
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Student school bus workers in Illinois and New Jersey are now the newest members of the Teamsters Union, following overwhelming votes for representation. The 277 workers are part of a growing nationwide movement of school bus and transit workers who are joining the Teamsters to improve their working conditions.
In Alton, Illinois, 156 First Student drivers and monitors are now members of Teamsters Local 525, while 121 First Student drivers, aides, mechanics, yardmen and fuelers in Morganville, New Jersey joined Teamsters Local 469 in Hazlet.
"With seniority not being recognized and with favoritism, we really needed to make a change and join the Teamsters," said Howard Neal, a monitor at First Student in Alton. "The Teamsters have always had a good record of fighting for their workers and making sure they get good contracts."
"We need fairness, fair pay and better benefits," said Karen Wittman, a First Student driver in Alton. "I have good benefits through my husband because he is a Teamster and we're now members of the same local. I chose the Teamsters, because when you've got a problem, they're there to back you."
Thomas Pelot, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 525 said he is looking forward to negotiations to make improvements in the lives of these workers.
"This is an opportunity to make people's lives better and get them the respect they deserve," Pelot said.
Meanwhile, First Student school bus workers in New Jersey united to become Teamsters for many of the same reasons as their coworkers in Illinois: fairness on the job, improved benefits and better working conditions.
"We were high-fiving today; we were really happy," said Erika Kishel, a driver for First Student in Morganville. "Seniority needs to mean something and we need better pay and benefits, and believe we can obtain these things as Teamsters."
The Morganville workers are now a part of the more than 1,000 school bus workers Local 469 has organized in New Jersey since the Teamsters' national campaign to drive up standards in the school bus and transit industry began in 2006. Many school bus members with Local 469 have since negotiated strong contracts.
"These workers are to be commended for their determination and unity in becoming Teamsters," said Fred Potter, International Union Vice President At-Large and President of Local 469. "We will work hard to provide the best of representation and to get to work on negotiating a solid contract to improve their standard of living."
In the elections held in both Illinois and New Jersey, the workers chose the Teamsters Union over the alternative option on the ballot, the International Association of Machinists (IAM), joining 152 First Student workers this week in Missouri who also chose the Teamsters over the IAM.
The Illinois and New Jersey victories are the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 10,400 workers have become Teamsters.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
