On October 29th IBT organizers involved in the Champlin, MN election witnessed the strength of a terminally ill First Student school bus driver. They saw a man with a strong will find a way.
Months prior to the election in Champlin, Steve’s diagnosis was very dim and his future even dimmer. He was given months to live and found his time on earth was being cut short by words everyone dreads to hear “cancer”. His life was in its 53rd year and he would be leaving behind his children, other family members and his co-workers at the Brooklyn Park – Champlin First Student yard.
As the campaign rolled along, Steve had to be informed by his fellow co-workers of the progress being made to unionize. Steve was very in favor of helping his co-workers vote the Teamster Union into the workplace. He realized it would never effect him but it would all of his fellow drivers he had driven with for several years. Steve felt this was the best thing his co-workers could do and he wanted to be a part of it.
Having been left on a medical leave by FS, even after they were told by Steve of his prognosis, his name appeared on the Excelsior list which is given to the NLRB from the company. The IBT organizer recognized this and the organizing committee (OC) decided to call and see if Steve would be up to signing the infamous Vote Yes Petition (VYP) which was to come out the afternoon before the election.
Steve told the OC member to come on over, he was unable to get up to answer the door, but the garage door would be open and they could enter through it. Steve then instructed them to come down the hall to his bedroom.
There they found Steve, a very thin and seemingly weak man, who but months before was a healthy strong driver. As he signed his name proudly to the VYP, the organizer asked if he would be in need of transportation to the polling place. But Steve told his co-worker and the organizer he had already arranged for his son to bring him to the election. He told them when he would arrive and said he was looking forward to getting out.
The day of the vote came and the weather brought a steady cold rain. As the clock approached 10AM Steve's son drove up with his father inside. His son unloaded his father’s wheel chair and proceeded to roll him through the rain and into the bus garage area where the voting was being held. After casting his ballot to help support his co-workers, Steve picked up his “Wheels on the bus” t-shirt that he had requested when he signed the VYP days earlier.
The strength in this man will live in our hearts forever. How a man whose life was being surrendered much too soon was determined to support the Teamster campaign in order to help his co-workers gain a voice and respect that was much overdue. Steve could have given a thousand excuses of why he couldn’t GOTV but he didn’t.
When the time comes and your going through the election process and explaining to workers or co-workers the importance of signing the VYP or getting to the polls, tell them there is no excuse if a man in Steve’s condition was willing to sacrifice to take part in supporting his campaign-everyone should. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and Steve’s story proves it!
There are those of us that
There are those of us that have that will to live and do the right thing for them selves but willing give to others by showing their courage . This gentlemen has exhibited the courage all should have. thanks to Shelly for writing about this couragous gentlemen giving us an example for us to follow sheron
Well written and inspiring.
Well written and inspiring. Excellent. Thank you.
This is a great story. If
This is a great story. If you have some photos, please send them to me because I want to post the story on a few different web sites.
-Richard