(WASHINGTON) – School bus drivers and monitors with First Student in Sedalia, Mo., have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 833 in Jefferson City, Mo. The 45 school bus workers, who transport children with the Sedalia School District and E.W. Thompson State School, are seeking respect and fairness in their workplace. 

“I’m all for joining the Teamsters. We need respect and a fair wage. We need an end to favoritism and an end to our hours getting cut,” said Sharon Bridges, a four-year driver who transports children with special needs. “I was a union member for 23 years so I know that we can do better with a union.”

“Fair and equal treatment, that’s what we need,” said driver Phillip Younce. “We need stability, and I’m hoping we’ll have improved communication now within the company.”

Mark Bruemmer, Teamsters Local 833 Secretary-Treasurer, said the organizing committee of workers worked diligently, with the help of Local 833 organizer Denise Lehrer, to form their union by a strong 3-1 margin.

“A Teamster contract will give these drivers and monitors parity and improve their working conditions. We look forward to working with them,” Bruemmer said.

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 36,500 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters.

For more information on the Drive Up Standards campaign, go to www.driveupstandards.org and follow us on Twitter @DUstandards.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

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