First Student Bus Drivers Say Yes to Teamsters!

Friday, April 18, 2008
 Cologne, NJ - More than 200 school bus drivers employed by First Student corporation celebrated on the White Horse Pike in front of their bus yard in Cologne after hearing the results of their union election around 8 pm.  The newly minted Teamsters cheered, horns blared and music blasted as bus drivers and Teamsters Local 331 officials poured out of the bus building with arms upraised. 
 
With nearly 60% of the ballots cast in favor of the Teamsters, the outbreak of joy from co-workers, family and supporters, capped a long day of three separate voting periods supervised by an agent of the National Labor Relations Board.  A small number of challenged ballots were insufficient to affect the outcome.  There is a seven day period for parties to file objections to the conduct of the election, but the Teamsters expect the Labor Board to certify the election without challenge.
 
The day long rally in front of the big blue and gold Teamsters semi, capped an intensive several months campaign by an employees' committee coordinated by organizers from the Teamsters International Union.  The Teamsters volunteers took advantage of a national neutrality agreement with First Student in which the company has agreed not to obstruct union organizing drives.
 
Teamsters Local 331 leader Marcus King said, "This success is huge for both the First Student drivers and the A.C. Teamsters movement.  It's further proof that workers want the strong representation that only the Teamsters can provide.  Now we hope to get right to work negotiating a contract that addresses the school bus drivers concerns, including the arbitrary wage disparaties, the revocation of safety and attendance bonuses, and the general atmosphere of favoritism by management."
 
First Student is the largest school bus company in the United States and it's parent corporation is located in the United Kingdom where they are fully unionized.  They have many Teamster represented locations stateside, including the most recent additions in Lawnside and Willingboro, NJ.
 
Teamsters Local 331 is based in Pleasantville and has about 2,000 members in many industries including casinos, municipal employees, concrete and construction, and delivery drivers.
 

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