Louisiana School Bus Workers Overwhelmingly Choose Teamsters

First Student Drivers and Monitors Stand United for Improvements

WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — School bus drivers and monitors at three First Student locations in Louisiana have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 5 in Baton Rouge. The workers voted in favor of joining the Teamsters 52-0 in Zachary; 53-1 in Baton Rouge’s Central yard; and 23-4 in Port Allen. The workers united around a shared need for fair wages, affordable health insurance and fairness on the job. The group consists of 172 workers.

“We’re on our way to a better livelihood with the Teamsters on our side. We most of all need fairness and respect,” said Alice Blackburn, a monitor at the Port Allen First Student location.

“It was a great vote. We’re very satisfied with getting such a majority,” said Ted Bagwell, a driver from Baton Rouge’s Central yard.

Patricia Mulkey, a driver at the Zachary yard, said the workers from all three bus yards came together for an important opportunity to improve their working conditions.

“I have a feeling of pride that we all stuck together,” Mulkey said. “We need health insurance we can afford and for the conditions of our buses to improve. I’m glad we have the Teamsters to assist us in negotiations.”

Keith Partin, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 5, said the workers stood strong, and that the help of International Union organizers was invaluable in achieving this victory.

“These new members exercised their rights to organize and we fully support the local union in their negotiations,” said Willie Smith, Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 87.

This 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 16,100 workers have become Teamsters.

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

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters