Teamsters Rally to Support Illinois School Bus Workers

Report on Anti-Worker Activities Delivered at Durham Headquarters

Nearly 100 Teamsters and labor supporters rallied outside the national headquarters of Durham School Services in Downers Grove and delivered a report on the company’s anti-worker activities on April 28, 2010.

Representatives of Chicago Jobs With Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice joined Teamsters Local 777 and other local unions in support of more than 2,500 Teamster school bus workers. The report, directed to the National Express Group, parent company of Durham, details 60 complaints from the National Labor Relations Board against the company for mandatory anti-union meetings, unjust firing for union activity and intimidation of workers.

“We want to show school bus workers throughout Illinois that they can rely on the Teamsters to achieve higher wages and stronger protections at work,” said James T. Glimco, Local 777 President. “Our numbers keep growing because workers know they are better off as part of a Teamster union contract.”

The rally and report are part of the Teamsters’ Drive Up Standards campaign to organize and campaign for school bus drivers and monitors. The union currently represents more than 24,000 workers in the industry nationwide, including more than 3,400 Durham employees.

Bob Hollenbach, a bus driver in Cook County, shared some of the experiences of his bus yard since joining the Teamsters.

“We are fortunate to be members of Local 777, but some new drivers in our yard are from another employer,” he said. “They see that our wages and benefits are much better under the Teamsters and now they are forming a union, too.”

The National Express Group, a British company, has not yet responded to the Teamsters’ report. A copy of its findings was also delivered to the Chicago offices of the British Consulate on April 28.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents school bus workers throughout Illinois, including more than 800 with Teamsters Local 777, approximately 100 with Teamsters Local 673, approximately 700 with Teamsters Local 179 and more than 400 with Teamsters Local 330.

Download PDF

LATEST NEWS »