Massachusetts School Bus Drivers Choose Teamsters

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Apr 09, 2010, 02:10 ET

Peabody First Student Drivers Unite for Respect and Fairness in the Workplace

WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Student school bus drivers in Peabody, Mass., are celebrating a resounding 23-3 vote today in favor of joining Teamsters Local 42 in Lynn. The 27 drivers united for respect and fairness in their workplace.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

"When you have a union, you know things will be fair and you will have support," said Pat Goulart, a 17-year driver, citing the shorting of pay as one of her main concerns. "I'm really happy about this vote."

Alice T. Riley-King, President of Local 42, noted the workers' unity was reflected in this strong vote for representation.

"We're very pleased about the vote and we welcome these workers to the Teamsters. They deserve a better future and we are happy to be able to represent them," Riley-King said.

"This victory shows that school bus workers in New England are looking to secure their rights on the job and they are doing so by becoming Teamsters. We look forward to negotiating a strong contract on their behalf to improve their working conditions," said David W. Laughton, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Joint Council 10.

The victory is the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 26,200 drivers, monitors, aides, mechanics and attendants have become Teamsters.

For more information on the Drive Up Standards campaign, go to: www.schoolbusworkersunited.org

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters