Stewards Council Brings School Bus Workers Together

A newly formed Stewards Council is poised to become a model for Teamster school bus locals across the country. Shop stewards from Durham, STA and First Student in Jacksonville, Fla., formed the council with their local union leadership. The group of about 20 stewards meets on a regular basis to communicate, share information and keep up to date on what is happening at their companies.

“What’s happening in my yard is happening in your yard,” said Michele Haynes, a shop steward and driver with STA. “The thought behind the council is to share what is going on in our yards, what’s working or not working.”

School bus drivers and attendants with Durham in Jacksonville voted overwhelmingly in October to join Teamsters Local 512. This was the last group of nonunion workers; with this vote, all Duval County School District school bus workers are now Teamsters.

“The whole county is Teamster represented and it gives the workers a huge voice,” said Jim Shurling, President of Local 512. “All of the contract managers meet with the county on a regular basis so it makes sense for us to meet and address those issues so we can have a united front in terms of safe driver issues, contractual issues and more.”

Chris Brinson, a First Student driver, participates on the Stewards Council, making sure to attend all the meetings to find out what’s going on with her fellow Teamsters.

“It’s good to get a consensus on what’s working at the various locations. It used to be that these companies could do what they wanted and how they wanted, but with all of us coming together and being united, we can work for things to be fair and even for everyone,” Brinson said.

“Through the Stewards Council we have a voice and strength in numbers to keep the school board, the county and the companies accountable, and that is something we were never able to do before we were Teamsters,” Haynes said.