(WASHINGTON) – First Student school bus drivers in Moultonborough, N.H., have voted overwhelmingly, 27-7, to join Teamsters Local 633 in Manchester. They are among the more than 500 school bus workers who have joined the Teamsters in New England this year seeking fair wages, decent and affordable health care and respect on the job. There are 39 workers in the bargaining unit.

“United we stand,” said Kim Haley, a 24-year driver. “We need fairness in our work distribution and fair pay.”

“We all went online, did our homework and decided we wanted the Teamsters to represent us for their record with school bus drivers,” said driver Liz Spinale. “A lot of people don’t realize the responsibility drivers have. We’re out there in inclement weather, exposed to a lot. I’d like to see some decent health coverage and fairness in our assignments.”

“We welcome these workers to the Teamsters Union and look forward to negotiating a strong Teamster contract that improves their working conditions,” said David W. Laughton, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Joint Council 10 in Manchester and Local 633.

The victory is the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 26,800 drivers, monitors, aides, mechanics and attendants have become Teamsters.

For more information on the Drive Up Standards campaign, go to: www.schoolbusworkersunited.org

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

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