127 Bus Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Join
Teamsters Local 671
BRISTOL, Conn.,
May 6,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bus drivers and monitors at
First Student in Bristol have
voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 671. The new Teamsters
provide student transportation for Bristol Public Schools.
"In less than a week, more than 150 bus workers in Connecticut at two different locations voted
to become members of North
America's strongest union," said Tony Lepore, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 671 in
Bloomfield. "This organizing
victory was a united effort and sets a positive precedent for
future organizing endeavors. Thank you to Joint Council 10
Secretary-Treasurer Tom Mari, Local
1150 Secretary-Treasurer Rocco Calo,
Local 251 Secretary-Treasurer Matt
Taibi, Local 443 Secretary-Treasurer Sal Abate, and the Teamster Horsemen for their
crucial leadership and support throughout the organizing
process."
"Bus workers in New England are seeing their counterparts at
other yards organize with the Teamsters and they want to secure
those same benefits for themselves," said Mari. "Our Joint Council
is proud to put the 'team' in Teamsters and work across state lines
to help our affiliates organize workers and continue to build union
density."
The workers are now covered under the Teamsters First Student
National Master Agreement, the largest collective bargaining
agreement at any private school bus company in the United States.
"I am so proud of this team effort and what we accomplished. We
are now a part of the biggest, fastest, and strongest labor union
in the world, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters! We knew
that it was time for change, and we wanted for our voices to be
heard," said Karen Bogazis, a bus
driver at First Student in Bristol
and leader of the organizing committee. "We now have strong
representation, and we look forward to getting the Teamsters
contract that we deserve!"
"This was a hard-fought campaign by the workers to get what they
deserve. Now, these members have the backing of 1.3 million
Teamsters brothers and sisters to fight for the best working
conditions in the industry," said Val Zhukov, a field
representative and organizer at Local 671. "This would not have
been possible without the hard work and determination of the
organizing committee. Strong unions and good contracts can only be
won when workers themselves come together and realize the justice
and dignity they deserve on the job."
Teamsters Local 671 represents workers in transportation,
construction, and many other industries throughout Central Connecticut. For more information, go
to Teamsters671.com.
Contact:
Daniel Moskowitz, (770)
262-4971
Dmoskowitz@teamster.org
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-student-workers-in-bristol-organize-with-teamsters-302137010.html
SOURCE Teamsters Local 671