WASHINGTON, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- School bus drivers and monitors in Santa Rosa County, Fla., who are members of
Teamsters Local 991 in Mobile,
Ala., have won a major victory in a decision handed down by
the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C. The NLRB has ordered the
certification of their election, dismissing all objections their
employer, Durham School Services, filed in order to delay the
certification. The workers voted overwhelmingly in February 2013 to join Teamsters Local 991.
In its May 9 ruling, the NLRB
stated, "It is certified that a majority of the valid ballots have
been cast for International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 991, and
that it is the exclusive collective bargaining representative of
the employees…."
There are approximately 200 school bus workers in Milton, Pace
and Navarre, Fla., who have been
fighting alongside their union for recognition from Durham. They joined Teamsters Local 991
seeking improved safety and working conditions at the nation's
second-largest student transportation contractor.
"We have been Teamsters and united in our hearts all along,
fighting together to win the official recognition that we deserve,"
said Missy Nowling-Driggers, a
Durham school bus driver and
member of Teamsters Local 991.
"I commend every Teamster school bus member for the diligence
they have shown throughout this process. These workers stood strong
and stood their ground, while this company failed to respect their
vote, and dragged them through an unnecessary process. After 14
months, this company needs to abide by the law and bargain a fair
contract expeditiously and in good faith. We are going to continue
to fight for these hardworking Teamsters who transport our most
precious cargo—our children," said Jim
Gookins, Teamsters Local 991 Secretary-Treasurer.
The NLRB announcement comes as Teamsters General President
Jim Hoffa prepares to travel with a
delegation of Teamster school bus drivers and monitors to the
United Kingdom, where Durham's parent company, National Express
(NEX: LN) is headquartered.
Teamsters have been fighting for National Express to improve its
treatment of workers in North
America. Hoffa will meet with Unite the union
General-Secretary Len McCluskey, and
together they will call for improved company oversight by the
National Express Board of Directors at its annual meeting in
Birmingham, England, on
May 14.
The Teamsters Union, a group of United
Kingdom local authority pension funds, and more than 100
individual investors are sponsoring a resolution calling on the
Board to finally address systemic and longstanding issues with how
the company treats its workers in North
America.
Last month, school bus workers at Durham in Baltimore won a $1.25
million settlement with the company over unpaid wages.
The Teamsters Drive Up Standards campaign to improve safety,
service and work standards in the private school bus and transit
industry began in 2006. Since then, more than 36,500 North American
school bus and transit workers have become Teamsters.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million
hardworking men and women throughout the
United States, Canada and
Puerto Rico. Visit
www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter
@Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters