Chula Vista, California School District Drivers Vote to Join Teamsters (60-0)

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-20-2009/0005062945&EDATE=

Respect, Wages Top Issues for Drivers

CHULA VISTA, Calif., July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- School bus drivers in Chula Vista, California, voted 60-0 to join the Teamsters. There are 67 drivers in the bargaining unit, represented by Local 683 in San Diego.

The campaign started last November, with the drivers seeking better representation to deal with issues of respect in the workplace, inequality of wages and lack of communication. The election was held June 30 but the votes were not tallied until July 17.

"We wanted to be treated and paid fairly for the hard work that we do," said Debbie Mejia, a school bus driver in Chula Vista for nearly three years. "We had absolutely no representation and now we have a union who will be there for us."

Shannon Silva, Secretary-Treasurer for Local 683, said the drivers were seeking strong representation and decided the Teamsters were the best union for them.

"We will work hard to negotiate the best contract we can for them," Silva said.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.


SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters