Veolia Transportation Workers Join Teamsters Union

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

May 17, 2010, 03:54 ET

San Diego Drivers, Mechanics and Service Workers Overwhelmingly Choose Teamsters

WASHINGTON, May 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Veolia Transportation drivers, mechanics and service workers in San Diego have voted by more than an 8-1 margin to join Teamsters Local 683. The 404 workers joined the Teamsters seeking respect, dignity and a democratic voice in their workplace.

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"I loved the vote. It showed super support from our co-workers to become Teamsters," said Dennis French, a Veolia driver. "We wanted the Teamsters because we know it's a strong union and we wanted that kind of representation here at Veolia."

The final vote was an overwhelming 281 votes in favor of Teamsters Local 683; 28 votes for the workers' former representative, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1309; and 5 votes for no union representation.

"This victory is a tribute to the leadership of Local 683, the International Union's Organizing Department and the Joint Council's commitment to organizing. A great job was done and this is great for the workers," said Randy Cammack, International Vice President At-Large and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42.

Veolia Transportation is a North American business unit of Paris-based Veolia Environnement. More than 3,500 Teamsters work at Veolia North America.

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 27,400 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