BOSTON
Teamster Local #25 puts brakes on bosses' scab plan
By
Stevan Kirschbaum
Steel Workers Local 8751
Boston
It was early morning on Sept. 7, the first day of a strike
by 45 Teamsters school-bus drivers for Brookline and Newton,
affluent Boston suburbs. The drivers were fighting for better
wages and family health care.
According to the Teamsters' statement "A 6-billion dollar
company, Laidlaw employs 85,000 employees in over 1,300
locations in U.S. and Canada and is one of the largest private
school-bus transportation companies in the nation. In the most
recent figures available, Laidlaw reported a 22-percent
increase in revenue with a 30-percent increase in stock
dividends for shareholders.
"In a dismal comparison, the average Laidlaw bus drivers'
take home pay is $250 per week. Laidlaw's current offer for
health care coverage would cost the employees 50 percent of
their take home pay."
Laidlaw had scavenged for regional management hacks to scab
on the strikers. Extra details of Boston Police were also
called in. Laidlaw acted as though they believed that they
could easily defeat this small local union.
However the militant determined union action of the drivers
laid down the law to Laidlaw. The multinational drivers, the
majority Haitian and African American, maintained a strong
picket line.
The "Teamsters Local 25 Strike Force," which included squads
of solidarity picketers in bright blue and yellow T-shirts,
joined the strikers. The "Force" was backed up by a massive
18-wheel Teamsters Mobile HQ tractor-trailer, which "broke
down," blocking the sole gate of the bus yard. The gate was
also padlocked from the picket line side.
A prolonged battle with the police ensued, accompanied by a
pathetic whining chorus of Laidlaw officials. When a cop tow
truck finally arrived, the Teamsters' truck mysteriously
started up and escaped being towed.
By this time members of USWA Local 8751, Boston School Bus
Drivers and Monitors, who brought their solidarity, their
research information on Laidlaw and the experience of the many
successful strikes against the bus companies and the City of
Boston, joined the picket line. The street thundered with
chants denouncing Laidlaw, scabs and corporate greed. The
picket line swelled. Boston Police brought in reinforcements to
harass the line.
When a bus loaded with scabs attempted to leave the yard the
picketers heroically fought to defend their strike. The Union
carried the day. Not one scab had crossed the line to pick up
school children.
That evening the superintendents of both Newton and
Brookline held press conferences stating that due to "violence
on the picket line" they would not permit any Laidlaw buses to
pick up students until the strike was settled.
The following morning at 5:00 a.m., USWA activists at all
four Boston bus yards distributed a solidarity leaflet to all
1,200 members of the local. It stated in part, "Our history has
taught us that solidarity is critical in any union battle for
justice. We are calling on all union members and supporters to
come down to the lines and show your solidarity.
"We must demonstrate in action the old union slogan that `an
injury to one is an injury to all' and stand with these
brothers and sisters. Their fight is our fight."
Regional Laidlaw boss Paul Keith, fearing that the
Brookline/Newton "problem" might spread to Boston, agreed to
withdraw all Boston management from the Laidlaw scab
campaign.
Later that day federal mediators were called in and a
contract settlement was reached. The overwhelming majority of
the drivers voted to accept the pact, which included a
$2.50-per-hour raise spread over the life of the contract as
well as important gains on family-health benefits.
These drivers still have a long way to go to receive
economic justice and parity with their Boston sisters and
brothers. However their valiant struggle against this corporate
parasite has once again proved that united labor action plus
solidarity is a winning combination.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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