The workers' organizing committee stuck together and worked hard during the campaign. Their victory is the latest in the Teamsters 5-year Drive Up Standards campaign to organize private school bus and transit workers nationally. More than 30,900 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters.
Virginia Mentsell, a First Student driver, said,
I support forming a union with the Teamsters because we all need a living wage. A Teamster contract will help us secure that and much more.Tom Caudle, also a driver, said joining the Teamsters was about gaining dignity and respect on the job.
Prior to becoming Teamsters, we were being taken advantage of. Now that we are Teamsters, we will get the respect we deserve through a strong Teamster contract.John Emrick, secretary-treasurer for Local 313, said he's proud of his newest members for showing that there's power in numbers. He said,
I welcome them to the Teamster family and look forward to working with them in the future.
