The following letter by First Student aide Denise Taylor was distributed to her co-workers in Baltimore in May 2006).

Denise Taylor and her granddaughter Destiny “I’m not fighting for just myself. I am fighting for everyone who deserves a brighter future at First Student in Baltimore.”

May 11, 2006

Dear First Student Coworkers:

As many of you know, I almost died last Thursday, May 4.

If it were not for my 8-year-old granddaughter, Destiny, I probably wouldn’t be here writing you this letter.

However, before I tell you what happened, I want to urge everyone to take an important, bold step on June 1 to make sure you and your family have a brighter future. I urge you to vote “Teamsters Yes” on June 1.

Now, back to my story. I am diabetic and, because our health insurance is so lousy at First Student, I am forced to pay $169 out of my own pocket for two weeks’ worth of insulin. That’s more than $350 per month. I can’t afford that. So, in an effort to stretch my monthly budget, I often skip doses.

Usually, I can get away with this. But it caught up to me on May 4.My blood sugar level dropped dangerously low and I lost consciousness. Fortunately, Destiny found me and called 9-1-1 when she noticed I wasn’t breathing normally. The medics told me that I was just minutes away from dying.

As you know, this past September the Company took away our AETNA insurance and gave us a lousy supplemental insurance policy, USNow, that is expensive but doesn’t cover the necessities. However, our managers continued to enjoy the better AETNA plan. We had no voice in the decision to downgrade our insurance!

First Student’s parent company, FirstGroup, is a multi-national corporation with 76,000 employees. Its CEO, Moir Lockhead, had a total compensation of more than $2 million in 2005, up from $1.4 million in 2003.

But we, the aides and drivers in Baltimore, are forced to get by with totally inadequate health insurance. This is immoral for a company that makes billions in profits.

We can do something about it. On June 1, let’s vote to form a union with the Teamsters.With a collective voice, we will be able to sit down and negotiate a contract, including health insurance, retirement security, a grievance procedure and respect and dignity on the job.

Our time has come. I’m not fighting for just myself. I am fighting for everyone who deserves a brighter future at First Student in Baltimore.

Sincerely,
Denise Taylor, Aide
Philadelphia Road

cc:Moir Lockhead
Carey Paster