Organizing for Power this Labor Day

This Labor Day presents the challenges of a troubled economy and workers need labor unions more than ever. That’s why the Teamsters are continuing to fight and win for working families, engaging in historic campaigns that are building movements across the country and across industries.

The day after Labor Day, the Teamsters will file 25 representation election petitions on behalf of more than 3,000 workers in the privatized school bus industry. These school bus drivers, monitors and mechanics work for companies such as First Student, Durham School Services, Baumann Bus and Student Transportation of America in communities from Alaska to New York.

We have built a movement of thousands of school bus and transit workers to raise these marginalized workers into the middle class.

Nearly 20,000 school bus and transit workers have joined the Teamsters in the last three years. We now represent nearly 75,000 workers who are vital to the safety and security of our children and the public. Their interests are protected by more than 500 collective bargaining agreements.

Standing together with the Teamsters, school bus workers have raised standards and won:

• Company contributions to health care coverage;
• Paid sick days so workers can recover from illnesses before getting back on a bus;
• Bereavement leave for those who suffer the loss of family members;
• Paid foul-weather days for workers in extreme climates; and
• Fair bidding procedures that prevent favoritism in the workplace.

Building a Movement

The Teamsters also have built workers’ movements in the aviation industry, both to raise standards for low wage workers and to preserve the middle class jobs of others. In the last three years, more than 11,000 workers from all classes and crafts in the airline and air-cargo industries have joined our great union.

Today, 8,000 Continental Airlines fleet service workers are fighting the odds to organize their union with the Teamsters. These struggling workers have had to face the volatile changes in the airline industry. Continental recently announced layoffs of 1,700 workers who are without the protection of a union contract.

These workers have tried five times to form a union but have been unable to do so because of unfair, out of date laws and election procedures.

But now, working with the Teamsters, Continental fleet service workers have achieved what seemed impossible and what they had been unable to reach with any other union: majority support of this huge national work force.

At the same time, aviation technicians at FedEx Express are faced with declining standards that threaten their middle class status and they, too, are struggling to form a union with the Teamsters.

Free Choice

The Teamsters Union is working with the Obama administration and our allies in Congress to reform federal laws and procedures so that airline employees can choose to form a union in a more democratic and fair process.

Studies show that millions more workers would belong to unions if they had the opportunity to do so. In addition to working for reform of the process for airline employees, we are also working with our allies to push for the Employee Free Choice Act. To preserve and grow America’s middle class — the backbone of the American economy — workers need to have the opportunity to decide for themselves, without employer interference, whether or not to form a union. The Employee Free Choice Act would give them that opportunity.

Historically, the labor movement and the Teamsters have been the most important force in building the American middle class. In 2009, the Teamsters continue this proud tradition and continue the fight to raise standards for America’s working families.