Edith Caulo, Driver Assistant, Baumann, Coram yard:
“I support forming a union with the Teamsters. That’s the way we can finally get affordable health care, fair pay, respect and seniority rights at work.”
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Pamela Mason, Driver, Baumann, Bohemia yard:
“We have an important job carrying people’s children. We are the heart of this company and we don’t get respect. Respect, decent wages and benefits are all long overdue. Seeing how we’re coming together and uniting, I am confident that we will form our union!”
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John Baez, Driver, Baumman, Northport yard :
“When we have a union contract, we will have rules that are clear and consistent for everyone. Right now we have guidelines that are only followed when the company feels like it.”
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Alicia Ocasio, Driver, Baumann, Commack yard:
“We all want to see a difference. We all need to come on board for change. We, and our families, will be much better off when we’re in a union. I think the Teamsters are amazing and will help us get all the respect that we’ve earned.”
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Joe Williams, Driver, Baumann, Coram yard:
“I’m a retired Teamster and I have great benefits. There needs to be a union at our company for all the workers to be able to choose good, affordable coverage for themselves and their families.”
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Johnine Kendall, driver, First Student, Tacoma, Washington:
“For everybody that’s trying to organize their lot: Just stay strong, be positive, don’t let the naysayers drag you down, and keep the faith because it will work. We can make a difference.”
Barbara Stewart, driver, First Student, Little Rock, Arkansas (ex-school bus driver with FS and now organizer):
“I always tell everybody that words carry power. ‘Union’ means everybody. Stay together. Stick together. I’m excited about the goal of organizing 10,000 bus and transit workers. It’s going to happen. And I’m going to be part of that 10,000.”
Patricia (Tammy) Holmes, Lawnside, NJ:
“I voted Teamsters because we need things. We need good health benefits. We need our yard fixed. We have potholes in our yard. We need our buses fixed. We need seniority rights. We just need everything.
Health insurance is really important. I recently was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I need medical and I need good medical. I’m paying $112.38 a week, for medical coverage for myself alone. That doesn’t cover most of the stuff. Medications aren’t covered. Not a lot is covered and I’m paying a lot. That’s the First Student plan.
I’m seeing the same concerns nationwide with First Student facilities. I am seeing the same things. You want to be in a union because this what you have. You have nothing now. You have no support. In a union, you have support. It’s very important to have someone have your back.
“Go Teamsters!”
Carleen Wilson, driver Lawnside, NJ, FS:
“We stood up for our rights. We looked beyond our bosses and went for what we wanted. It’s not what they want; they already have what they want. We need to get what we need.”
“The biggest issue was safety—in the yard and with the buses. If you’re telling us, ‘If you can’t do it safe, don’t do it,’ then when we call in with a safety issue, I believe you should have us return that bus and give us a safe bus to do our job. You said we are professionals, let us act like professionals.”
“If you look at my hand it’s swollen because there are potholes in the bus yard. I slipped on ice and fell and hurt my hand. Those are safety issues that need to be addressed. You talk about us being safe picking up the kids, we need safety in the yard before we can leave, and go out and do our jobs safe on the streets.”
“Cash or credit card: That’s my insurance. I don’t have insurance from the job because it would be $112 a week for me and my son. That doesn’t cut it when you work 25 hours a week. That’s just your paycheck right there for medical benefits, so I did not take their insurance.”
Doni Gragert, driver, Soldotna, Alaska, Local 959 member
“I think organizing is important, not only for the drivers who definitely need their job standards raised, but also for the kids who need to have the same drivers every year…people who will stay and pay attention to their jobs and not worry about how they’re going to pay their rent. I think the kids need that. Kids need that continuity, especially in these times. First Student has a turnover rate that is unbelievable.
“I voted Teamsters because I want to have some voice behind me when I talk to my boss and the Teamsters can provide that.”
“When you’re facing a gigantic corporation it’s nice to have all your brothers and sisters standing with you, and when they do, you can do anything.”
Tara Johnson, Trenton, NJ FS
“I voted for the Teamsters because I wanted better pay, respect and it was just a good thing to do.”
“I just really recently learned it was this big. I didn’t know we had so many people all over the country organizing until I got to Jacksonville and I was like, ‘Wow this is great.’ I’ve met so many people from all over.”
“Go Teamsters!”
Linda Hulse, driver, Local 469 member, Trenton, NJ (Whitehead)
“I’m down here in Jacksonville, most importantly to support the First Student drivers here in Jacksonville, and secondly, to learn a little more about organizing to get the skills I need to continue organizing, hopefully, in New Jersey.”
“I want to help out because I believe, in my heart, that it’s a good thing. I believe in the Teamsters. The Teamsters are definitely needed at First Student with all the issues and concerns that we have.”
“I voted Teamsters because I believe in teamwork. I believe we needed a change at our yard, and it’s actually started to happen. We voted Teamsters, and already we’re starting to see change and improvements, starting to see the teamwork there in our yard in Trenton. Camaraderie is what I see, first and foremost. The favoritism is most definitely coming to an end. You see unity and mutual respect between management and employees, and also amongst the employees themselves. Working conditions have definitely improved. It’s a morale builder. It’s a good thing….. Anyone from Trenton will tell you they love the kids; we care about them and take our jobs personally.”
“I just tell people you have to hang in there, that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We were in the same position as you. I just keep spreading the word.”
Darryl Reid, Savannah, GA, Local 728, First Student Driver:
“We had a great rally today and it was a great success, a wonderful turnout. The morale of the people has changed. I noticed that. And they are very interested in becoming a part of the Teamsters. I think the campaign will be a great success and the workers will see a better future as far as safety, benefits, security and having a voice as a people.”
“It’s about the kids, and if the company trusts the kids to our care, we should be treated fairly and as professionals. We’re professional drivers and we do our jobs well. We care about what we do.”
“The biggest issues for me when we were organizing were fairness, respect, wages and benefits, safety and security. We would like to make this more than just a job. We look forward to making it a career.”
April Johnson, Local 728, First Transit, Emory University:
“We recently became Teamsters. We had an overwhelming majority vote of 64 to 0. I voted Teamsters because we need a lot of change at our location. We need respect, better equipment, and the rate of pay is low. Also, with health insurance, it’s very expensive and hardly anyone can afford it. We don’t have any holidays paid. We have no sick leave. We needed somebody to help us to unite and to get this company to treat us like human beings. We found out that the Teamsters can help us.”
Kathy Stafford, driver, Local 728, First Transit, Georgia State University
….“I just want to be treated fairly and would hope that the company would understand that, but so often, it doesn’t appear that they even give it a second thought.”
“The Teamsters have been such an integral part in helping us organize. Before we even voted Teamsters, they were backing us up as employees, and we appreciate them so so very much. We haven’t even gotten a contract just yet, but it’s on the way because we see a change already.”
Hans Reid, driver, Local 728, First Transit, Georgia Tech:
“I’m glad I made that call to the union. I’m proud of our unanimous victory. I think everybody that drives, or cooks, or does anything, needs to be a union member. You wouldn’t go to court without a lawyer. Why would you go to your supervisor without a union rep? You need protection and representation.”
