YSR
11th October 2007, 02:37
via Infoshop:
Laidlaw drivers stage wildcat strike
By Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/08/2007
A wildcat strike against the bus company serving the St. Louis Public Schools is expected to continue this afternoon , affecting dismissal of the district's 30,000 students.
School officials said nearly half of the Laidlaw International bus drivers and behavior monitors serving the district failed to show up for work this morning in a dispute over wages and benefits. The drivers claimed the number of no-shows far exceeded 50 percent.
At a mid-morning rally at Penrose Park, a representative of the Laborers' International Union of North America asked the drivers to return to the table. The request was met with derision.
Afterward, the drivers said they would return, instead, to protest again at the gates of Laidlaw bus depots throughout the city.
The drivers indicated they will continue the shutdown for at least another day.
“Remember,” an organizer shouted through a bullhorn as this morning's rally ended.. “Keep the road and the entrance clear. Let the buses through. Say what you want to say, but don't touch the buses and don't block the buses. We don't want anyone going to jail.”
The drivers staged the unauthorized strike to protest its representation in labor negotiations as well as what they say are below average wages and a lack of health benefits.
On Friday, the membership voted to discontinue its relationship with School Transportation and Allied Workers' Laborers Local 509, an affiliate of the Laborers' International Union of North America.
Drivers said they walked out after Local 509 approved a 90-day contract extension without their approval.
“Basically, (the union) sold them out to the company,” said Kenneth Gully, a 16-year driver.
“509 is not doing anything, what they're doing is providing (Laidlaw) with cheap labor.”
The drivers claim the union negotiated and signed off on a 45-cent per hour raise . They called the pay increase unacceptable. The district's most senior drivers earn up to $15 per hour, but work just four to five hours a day.
Driver Andre LaGrand, who earns $12.73 an hour after 11 years on the job, said the drivers and bus montiors believe they would be better represented by another labor organization.
“(Local 509)” doesn't know anything about what we go through on the roads,” he said.
Venezia Nunley said the bus operators are only asking for a fair shake.
“All we want is to live like normal people,” she said. “We want to be able to go to the doctor, go to the dentist and get eyeglasses so we can see. We make too much for food stamps, we make too much to be eligible for day care assistance. We're just stuck in the middle.”
Despite the disruption to at least half of its 545 bus routes, the school district has vowed that classes will “continue as usual.”
"The drivers who are on the job this morning are doing double and triple routes just to get the kids in," said spokeswoman Deborah Sistrunk said.
It wasn't school as usual, however, for Sigel Elementary first grader Nicole Williams and her brother, Duane , a third - grader .
Instead of taking the bus to school this morning, Nicole and Duane walked nearly a mile from their home in Soulard.
The drivers' strike hit the district in the wake of several half-day school closings due to heat during the opening weeks of classes.
“If it's not thing, it's always something else with these schools,” said the children's mother, Glenda Williams.
Laidlaw was purchased last week by First Student, a subsidiary of Scotland-based FirstGroup.
Our earlier story:
Students on approximately half of the bus routes serving the St. Louis Public Schools were expected to be late for classes this morning after a wildcat strike sidelined the drivers scheduled to bring them to school.
City schools spokeswoman Deborah Sistrunk said the district is still trying to determine how many of the the schools' 545 bus routes will be affected.
"The drivers who are on the job this morning are doing double and triple routes just to get the kids in,"
Sistrunk said.
St. Louis school officials received word of a possible strike, reportedly to protest a stall in contract talks over salary and benefits, late Sunday night.
The district is in the process of determining what will occur at the end of the school day.
The striking bus drivers say they will hold a rally at 10 a.m. at Penrose Park in the city.
The drivers say they have split with their union -- Laborers Local 509 -- because the union leadership was only able to negotiate a 45-cent per hour raise. Senior drivers currently earn $15 an hour with no benefits.
" You have to choose between paying the premium for insurance or food for your kid," said a driver and parent who would identify herself only as Barbara Thompson.
Laidlaw was purchased last week by First Student, a subsidiary of Scotland-based FirstGroup.
The drivers have since gone back to work. After two days, they slowed down the school district significantly and put the fear of god back into the bureaucrats. Nothing like the good old black cat!
Laidlaw drivers stage wildcat strike
By Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/08/2007
A wildcat strike against the bus company serving the St. Louis Public Schools is expected to continue this afternoon , affecting dismissal of the district's 30,000 students.
School officials said nearly half of the Laidlaw International bus drivers and behavior monitors serving the district failed to show up for work this morning in a dispute over wages and benefits. The drivers claimed the number of no-shows far exceeded 50 percent.
At a mid-morning rally at Penrose Park, a representative of the Laborers' International Union of North America asked the drivers to return to the table. The request was met with derision.
Afterward, the drivers said they would return, instead, to protest again at the gates of Laidlaw bus depots throughout the city.
The drivers indicated they will continue the shutdown for at least another day.
“Remember,” an organizer shouted through a bullhorn as this morning's rally ended.. “Keep the road and the entrance clear. Let the buses through. Say what you want to say, but don't touch the buses and don't block the buses. We don't want anyone going to jail.”
The drivers staged the unauthorized strike to protest its representation in labor negotiations as well as what they say are below average wages and a lack of health benefits.
On Friday, the membership voted to discontinue its relationship with School Transportation and Allied Workers' Laborers Local 509, an affiliate of the Laborers' International Union of North America.
Drivers said they walked out after Local 509 approved a 90-day contract extension without their approval.
“Basically, (the union) sold them out to the company,” said Kenneth Gully, a 16-year driver.
“509 is not doing anything, what they're doing is providing (Laidlaw) with cheap labor.”
The drivers claim the union negotiated and signed off on a 45-cent per hour raise . They called the pay increase unacceptable. The district's most senior drivers earn up to $15 per hour, but work just four to five hours a day.
Driver Andre LaGrand, who earns $12.73 an hour after 11 years on the job, said the drivers and bus montiors believe they would be better represented by another labor organization.
“(Local 509)” doesn't know anything about what we go through on the roads,” he said.
Venezia Nunley said the bus operators are only asking for a fair shake.
“All we want is to live like normal people,” she said. “We want to be able to go to the doctor, go to the dentist and get eyeglasses so we can see. We make too much for food stamps, we make too much to be eligible for day care assistance. We're just stuck in the middle.”
Despite the disruption to at least half of its 545 bus routes, the school district has vowed that classes will “continue as usual.”
"The drivers who are on the job this morning are doing double and triple routes just to get the kids in," said spokeswoman Deborah Sistrunk said.
It wasn't school as usual, however, for Sigel Elementary first grader Nicole Williams and her brother, Duane , a third - grader .
Instead of taking the bus to school this morning, Nicole and Duane walked nearly a mile from their home in Soulard.
The drivers' strike hit the district in the wake of several half-day school closings due to heat during the opening weeks of classes.
“If it's not thing, it's always something else with these schools,” said the children's mother, Glenda Williams.
Laidlaw was purchased last week by First Student, a subsidiary of Scotland-based FirstGroup.
Our earlier story:
Students on approximately half of the bus routes serving the St. Louis Public Schools were expected to be late for classes this morning after a wildcat strike sidelined the drivers scheduled to bring them to school.
City schools spokeswoman Deborah Sistrunk said the district is still trying to determine how many of the the schools' 545 bus routes will be affected.
"The drivers who are on the job this morning are doing double and triple routes just to get the kids in,"
Sistrunk said.
St. Louis school officials received word of a possible strike, reportedly to protest a stall in contract talks over salary and benefits, late Sunday night.
The district is in the process of determining what will occur at the end of the school day.
The striking bus drivers say they will hold a rally at 10 a.m. at Penrose Park in the city.
The drivers say they have split with their union -- Laborers Local 509 -- because the union leadership was only able to negotiate a 45-cent per hour raise. Senior drivers currently earn $15 an hour with no benefits.
" You have to choose between paying the premium for insurance or food for your kid," said a driver and parent who would identify herself only as Barbara Thompson.
Laidlaw was purchased last week by First Student, a subsidiary of Scotland-based FirstGroup.
The drivers have since gone back to work. After two days, they slowed down the school district significantly and put the fear of god back into the bureaucrats. Nothing like the good old black cat!