School bus drivers get new union election

The National Labor Relations Board has ordered a new union election among school bus drivers employed by First Student Transportation in the Twin Cities. The new election could take place as soon as the end of March.

The NLRB ruling throws out the results of a May 1999 election, when the company was known as Ryder Student Transportation Services. That organizing attempt by Service Employees Local 284 was defeated by 59 votes.

However, in a 2-1 decision, the NLRB ruled that Ryder illegally interfered with the 1999 election. It ordered a second election among the company’s full-time and part-time drivers, school bus aides and wash rack employees. The NLRB also upheld an administrative law judge’s findings that Ryder was guilty of unfair labor practices during the 1999 organizing campaign.

A second chance
As of press time, no election date had been set, but Shelly Hagglund, of Local 284, said, ‘We’re in serious dialog right now.’ She said the new election likely would be held between the end of March and mid-April.

Hagglund said union supporters at First Student are enthusiastic about getting a second chance. ‘It’s going quite well,’ she said. ‘People think this is a good time and that people are going to be supportive. They’re telling us nothing has changed: It’s the same old company, the same old garbage.’

First Student has nine terminals in the Twin Cities area and transports students for a dozen local school districts, including St. Paul, Mounds View, North St. Paul/Maplewood, St. Anthony/New Brighton and Minneapolis.

In the first election, held May 26 and 27, 1999, nearly 1,700 employees were eligible to vote. The union was defeated 723-664, with 49 additional ballots challenged.

Recognition and respect
Economic issues and a desire for more respect are major reasons the drivers are organizing, Hagglund said. ‘It’s an important job and service,’ she said, ‘yet there’s absolutely no recognition of that. It’s not just a part-time job.’

She said initial wages at First Student ‘are not that far off’ from the pay scale of unionized school bus drivers in the area. ‘However, they cap off real soon. Once you hit that ceiling, you don’t go any farther.’ Hagglund said the overall financial package at First Student was noticeably smaller.

The NLRB ordered the new election because of a raffle the company announced two days before the 1999 election. The raffle promised to award two expense-paid trips to Disney World or two $1,000 cash prizes if at least 1,450 employees voted.

The NLRB, basing its decision on case law, said the raffle interfered with a fair election because ‘such payments could reasonably be ? perceived as a favor from the Employer which the employees might feel obligated to repay by voting against the Union.’ The decision noted that Ryder placed some of the raffle announcements ‘beside ?Vote No’ posters.’

Ryder was also found guilty of violating labor law by maintaining and enforcing ‘an unwritten no-access policy’ for off-duty employees and attempting to bar employees from handing out union literature. In addition, company representatives made statements in ‘town hall’ meetings suggesting that the company would not bargain in good faith if the union won.

This article was written for the March 7 issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission. The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org

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