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Georgia Tech bus drivers demand justice
Published Jan 30, 2010 6:37 AM
On Dec. 18, just before Christmas, 40 unionized shuttle bus drivers who
transport Georgia Tech students, faculty and staff around the sprawling campus
were notified they had lost their jobs. The prestigious university had awarded
the contract to a new company, Groome Transportation, which was breaking
precedent and not retaining the existing work force. Although the drivers had
years of experience, the new company refused to even interview them for the
openings. More than a year earlier, these men and women had voted unanimously
to join Teamsters Local 728, making them the only unionized work force on the
Tech campus. The recently hired new drivers are working for lower wages and
without the benefits guaranteed in the union contract.
Determined to fight this union-busting move sanctioned by school officials, the
drivers, dozens of other union members, Georgia Tech students and community
groups have joined together for several protests and leafleting events at
university offices and bus yards. The drivers and their families carried bright
yellow signs, demanding “Justice for Georgia Tech Bus Drivers” in
this year’s annual Martin Luther King Day march, bringing a message of
workers’ rights to the day.
— Dianne Mathiowetz
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