Michigan First Student Workers Choose Teamsters

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Mar 24, 2010, 05:25 ET

School Bus Drivers and Aides Unite for Improved Working Conditions

WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Student school bus drivers and aides in Harrison, Michigan, have voted to join Teamsters Local 486 in Saginaw. The 35 workers united in order to secure a voice and fairness in their workplace.

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"We're very happy with the vote outcome," said Thomas Monte, a three-year driver, of the 20-12 vote in favor of Teamster representation. "The main thing we wanted was fairness and consistency and for seniority to count for something."

The workers in Harrison decided to join the Teamsters after hearing about the superior conditions at other Teamster-represented First Student locations in the state.

"We welcome these workers to the Teamsters Union. They were committed to organizing and this is a great win," said David Robinson, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 486.

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 25,800 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