Go Greensboro, Go Greensboro ... Go!
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Late last month the School Bus and Transit Workers at First Student's Greensboro, North Carolina yard voted 87-8 to join Teamsters Local 391.
Like the 6,000-plus coworkers before them, the Greensboro employees joined the union seeking fair pay, affordable health insurance and improved safety and respect in the workplace.
“I’m feeling good now,” said James Moore, a seven-year driver with First Student in Greensboro. “We need more affordable medical insurance and we should be paid for what we do. We have a huge responsibility transporting children. Everybody’s happy and united for this, as you can see from the vote count.”
The 117 First Student drivers and monitors perform contract work with the Guilford County Schools. According to Local 391 organizer Rachel Baisden, the new members learned the benefits of Teamster membership from the Guilford County drivers, who are members of Local 391. The First Student employees then contacted Local 391 to organize as Teamsters.
You can read the full press release on this victory by clicking here .
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Reader Comments (2)
Hi All,
This is Ian McDonald Union secretary First Leeds.I had the pleasure of attending the Jacksonville Convention and be able to talk to many of First Group workers from around the US. I was heartened by the people I met and know that Trade Unionism is alive and well in US despite companies like First.Here Nationally we have just signed off a National Drugs and Alcohol policy negotiated by the TGWU at a National level. This means that the same procedure for testing will be standard throughout the UK. The company have launched a short stories competition where the prize is to be a new laptop for the National winner and prizes for the Regional and local winners.Mind you verything is not all good. Locally in Leeds we are negotiating wages and the company have offered just over 2%. This is only 21p or 42cents an hour increase. My members will turn this down in a ballot vote.
Woops pressed the wrong button and posted only half my message. I have been following the wins by the Teamsters and am proud to be apart of the Global fight for driving up standards throughout the world. We as busworkers all have the same problems whether in Germany, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and the every State of the US. The link between workers is vital in the fight against First taking advantage of workers. The AGM that took place in 2007 was a major breakthrough in that campaign.The joint approach by the Unions sent a clear message to First. They listened to the message but have not got things right yet. I salute the US workers for continuing to battle for recognition for the teamsters and fighting for dignity in the workplace.
Yours In Peace
Ian