My name is Lori Polesel. I'm from Local 445 in Newburgh, New York and I'm a bus driver for First Student in Wallkill, New York. First Student has been at my location a little over four years.

When First Student, the second largest bus company in the U.S., took over our bus company, wages and bonuses were cut, medical insurance was lost, sick days were taken away and the retirement plan was changed. Things went from not so bad with a small family-owned company, to worse. Each year with First Student we have town hall meetings and each year I question why they can't do better. The stock answer is, “We'll get back to you.” I'm still waiting four years later.

When the opportunity came to organize our bus yard, I was eager to become involved. I had seen these people struggle. I knew this was our opportunity to stand together and make a difference. There was a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

Easy is coming into a new job with a union in place, filling out a membership card, paying dues and reaping the rewards. But how many of us can say we were there when it all started? I can tell you there's no greater reward.

We organized one face at a time. At our first committee meeting and our second, there were three of us that attended. During the company's first captive audience meeting, I stood alone facing management, confronting them on the misinformation they were giving out and showing workers there was nothing to fear. I didn't feel very confident after leaving that meeting getting very little support, but at the second “informational meeting,” after confronting management again and having other union supporters back up our facts, I knew we had come together. We were a union; we were going to win; we had made a decision together to change our lives and our families’ lives for the better.

During the vote count, a large group had formed outside the building where the count was taking place. A few of us had gone inside to oversee the tally. The group outside was standing in a horseshoe formation around the door, holding hands. They were waiting for us to come out with the results.

Besides the birth of my two children, the most important moment of my life was about to take place. When I came out of the building and looked into the faces of my coworkers, my friends, my fellow Teamster brothers and sisters—hoping desperately that their lives were about to change for the better—I knew I had made a difference.

I blew an air horn and we raised our fists in victory. I will never forget the cheers, the tears, the hugs and the feeling of power that we had together.

We had won the right to have a voice. We would no longer have to wait for First Student to get back to us. My life did change. I urge you to make a difference, to be able to say—I was there when it all began. You'll be glad you did.