Rank-and-file unionists refuse to be bullied
By
Frank Neisser
Boston
Published Jul 3, 2008 9:18 PM
Representatives of First Student Inc. arrived at the United Steelworkers Local
8751 union hall June 30 in Boston accompanied by the mayor’s own labor
relations point person. They were there to present their “final
offer,” filled with concession demands, for a new contract with the
School Bus Drivers Union.
USW Local 8751 rank-and-file, June 30.
WW photo
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These negotiators immediately found themselves surrounded by dozens of militant
rank-and-file union activists. The drivers were there for the second shift
strike captains orientation and training, and they made it very clear just how
ready this union is to strike, if necessary.
The militants stayed for the negotiating session. In the end, many of the
concessions demanded in the company’s “final” offer were
taken off the table, and additional follow-up negotiating sessions were agreed
to. The union remains committed to its “No Cuts, No Concessions”
position.
The existing labor contract between First Student and Local 8751 expired before
midnight on June 30. The union proposed a limited extension: “In the
interest of concluding a fair and just Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
and allowing ample time and opportunity for serious joint efforts to resolve
all remaining areas of dispute. The intent is to allow time to reach an
agreement prior to the ‘start up’ of the 2008-2009 school year and
spare the tremendous hardship to the students and parents of Boston, as well as
the significant costs to the parties, financial and otherwise, associated with
a strike. This extension agreement would include a pact for retroactivity to
July 1, 2008, for the new CBA, including but not limited to wages, benefits,
terms and conditions, as well as other issues of interest to the
parties.”
The organic unity of this union with the community was boldly demonstrated over
this past weekend when TouchFM 106.1, “Fabric of the Community,” a radio show based in the
African-American community, conducted a one-and-a-half-hour interview/call-in show with USW Local 8751 President Frantz
Mendes, Negotiating Committee Chair Steve Kirschbaum, Chief Shop Steward Andre
Francois, and rank-and-file leader James “Scottie” Pina, who set up
the show.
MC Spice opened the show, saying, “Did you know that a British
corporation called First Student just got a $343 million no-bid sweetheart
vendor contract with the Boston Schools, with an additional $6 million signing
bonus? Did you know that they just monopolized the transportation in the U.S.,
buying out their chief competition Laidlaw and Greyhound? And that they are
trying to break the School Bus Drivers Union, making demands for big
concessions in labor contract negotiations? The School Bus Drivers are calling
for strike. I’m down with that! I’ll change my middle name to
‘strike!’ First Group’s profits are up 39 percent since last
year as a result of monopolizing the industry.”
The union is asking for supporters to call Mayor Tom Menino at 617-635-4500;
School Superintendent Carol Johnson at 617-635-9050; School Transportation
Director Rich Jacobs at 617-635-9520; and First Student Vice-President Bob
Timilty at 617-532-2500 to demand that the company negotiate in good faith and
stop holding the parents, students and community hostage to corporate greed.
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