February 1, 2007

(NEW ORLEANS, LA) – Laidlaw school bus drivers and monitors regained their voice in the workplace, overwhelmingly voting for the Teamsters Union as their bargaining representative.

Before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area, about 450 school bus workers had Teamster representation while working for the New Orleans Public Schools. After the hurricane, school transportation services were contracted to Laidlaw, leaving the workers without union representation. Of the approximately 350 workers currently employed by Laidlaw, the nation’s largest private school bus company, only 39 are former school system workers who returned after Hurricane Katrina.

"The hurricane dispersed so many community members and students," said David Negrotto, President of Local 270. "Because of the flooding, we went from over 100 schools to about five. We are rebuilding, and with the incredible assistance of the International, we were able to win representation for these workers."

The large margin of the final vote tally of 241-16 left no doubt that this group was determined to have the Teamsters Union as their representative.

"We have been through so much and we have worked so hard together," said Laidlaw driver Zandra Batiste. "We wore our shirts, rallied together and passed the word around. We are very happy that we formed our union."

The workers in New Orleans are now part of more than 7,000 Laidlaw school bus and transit workers represented by the Teamsters and are the latest group to be organized as part of an effort to organize private school bus drivers across the country.

Driving Up Standards is a national campaign by the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Transport and General Workers’ (T&G) union to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus industry, specifically targeting private school bus companies like Laidlaw and First Student. The Teamsters have organized more than 1,600 workers at First Student over the past six months.

Now that they have their union, they are looking forward to improved working conditions, which will enable them to more effectively contribute to an economy and community as it continues to rebuild. Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President, met with the workers and participated in a rally two days before the vote.

“The most important part in rebuilding a community after a disaster like Katrina is helping people lift themselves up, regain their identity, their respect,” Hoffa said. “With this victory, 350 people can go to work knowing they are part of something bigger, something that allows them to take an active part in directing their future. I am just honored they have allowed our union to be a part of that process.”

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.