‘Community support is key to success’

Steelworkers Local 8751 President Frantz Mendes WW photo: Liz Green

Workers World interviewed Frantz Mendes, president of Steelworkers Local 8751 and the first Haitian immigrant president of a Steelworker’ local.

WW: What are the main issues in the current contract negotiations with the company?

Frantz Mendes: The city and the company are looking for massive concessions and job cuts. They are seeking to cut jobs and hours across the board, from the top of the seniority list to the bottom, including citywide drivers and standby drivers. The company is also trying to use GPS [Global Positioning System] and a Zonar fleet management system to cut routes.

WW: What type of community support does the union have or is the union seeking?

FM: Community support is key to the success of the union in fighting for safety for the children and justice for the drivers. We have had the strong support of Work for Quality, a community and parent organization fighting to preserve choice in schools and access to quality schools for all the children in Boston. We also have the strong support of Team Unity—Boston City Councilors of color —Chuck Turner, Charles Yancey and Sam Yoon.

WW: How is the school bus drivers’ struggle linked to the fight against the racists?

FM: In January Mayor Menino called for dismantling school transportation and returning to walk-to schools. The union has been at the forefront of publicizing this racist attack and mobilizing and speaking out against it. Over the past 30 years the city has closed down many schools in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan where students of color live. There are no walk-to schools left in our communities. Community-labor solidarity has never been more important than now to fight this racist attack.

WW: What lessons do you see for the labor movement from the struggle of the school bus drivers’ union?

FM: The lesson I see for the labor movement is that we need unity. We can’t rely on politicians who claim to be “friends of labor” because when the chips are down they aren’t there. The slogan of the labor movement is “An injury to one is an injury to all.” If any union sister or brother is hurt it should be everyone’s concern.