Teamsters, First Student Workers Celebrate 10th Anniversary of National Bus Campaign
(BALTIMORE) – Today, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa rallied with First Student drivers and monitors who transport students for Baltimore City Public Schools to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Teamsters Union’s Drive Up Standards campaign.
Since launching the Drive Up Standards campaign in 2006, the union-wide effort to raise industry standards has become a model for its success in organizing workers on a monumental scale.
"When this campaign began in 2006, we had just 4,000 members in the bus industry. Today, we represent 46,000 bus workers at over 400 bus yards. First Student is now the third largest Teamster employer. The Teamsters are leading the way, and we have a bright future ahead of us,” Hoffa said.
"When we are united, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Let’s continue to drive up standards by fighting for safer vehicles, higher wages, and better benefits and protections for all Teamster bus members,” said Kevin Shelton, a driver at First Student.
The Baltimore rally is one of several events taking place at Teamster locals across the country to celebrate the campaign’s success.
“From coast to coast, Teamster bus workers are joining together to mark the amazing success and rapid growth of this campaign. Wherever there is a driver in need of a voice on the job, the Teamsters are ready and willing to help,” said Sean Cedenio, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 570 in Baltimore.
The Teamsters’ Drive Up Standards campaign is a global campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the privatized school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, 46,000 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters. For more information on the Drive Up Standards campaign, go towww.driveupstandards.org.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
