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Big wins for bus drivers

Published Apr 6, 2005 5:02 PM

When San Francisco school-bus drivers, members of United Transportation Union Local 1741, learned that the mechanics in their yard had set a strike date, they announced that they would not cross the picket line. The drivers showed the power of union solidarity by holding an informational picket line in support of the mechanics, who are members of Machinists local 1414. Fighting increases in health-benefit costs, as well as attacks on seniority rights, the mechanics had been working without a contract for 18 months.

In response, the school district’s department of transportation threatened to do away with guarantees that drivers will receive prevailing wages and benefits no matter which company wins a bid to provide busing services in San Francisco. That language has been part of their contracts for the past 25 years. The contract was going out to bid in late March.

“Some of us were scared,” a member of Local 1741 said. “But we asked, are we going to be intimidated? Hell no!”

The drivers’ union then held two more picket lines to show their resolve. One Honduran driver told union members at a support meeting, “I have five people depending on my income and I’m not crossing that picketline.”

The bus company, Laidlaw, caved in and gave the mechanics everything they’d demanded.

Following that great victory, another struggle ensued as the school district, true to its threat, removed protective language that covered benefits in bid specifications that went out to prospective contractors. The drivers of Local 1741 met that struggle as they had the other: with unity, courage, and strength.

Fifty drivers marched into a board of education meeting March 8 to protest. Several held up signs stating, “We deserve health care.” Others spoke against the attacks on their benefits. Within a week the board of education restored the protective language in the bid specifications.