(SAN FRANCISCO) –– Teamsters and drivers for Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation held an action this morning in San Francisco to call on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to adopt a resolution ensuring labor harmony. 

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a unanimous resolution in March that would require SFMTA to consider the labor practices of commuter shuttle operators as part of their permitting process. To date, the SFMTA has failed to take action on this important resolution. 

“In March, the Board of Supervisors told commuter shuttle operators that their labor practices matter. It’s been six months; now is the time for SFMTA to finally act on this important resolution,” said Mark Gleason, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 665 in San Francisco.

“This resolution protects MUNI operations and riders, while it also sends a message to commuter shuttle operators that they need to live up to basic standards as employers and treat workers properly,” said Rome Aloise, International Vice President and principal officer of Teamsters Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif. 

Drivers at Bauer’s joined with Teamsters in the action, calling on SFMTA to adopt the labor harmony resolution. Bauer’s drivers are currently organizing with Teamsters Local 665. 

Recently, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Bauer’s that alleged the company engaged in interference with employees’ attempts to speak to the Teamsters; surveillance of employees; and the creation of an in-house union by a company supervisor.

The San Francisco Labor Council has sanctioned a strike at Bauer’s. While the workers are not striking at this time, they are speaking out on the urgency for SFMTA to act on the Board’s resolution before it could potentially impact 800,000 daily MUNI riders.  

The Teamsters Union is organizing shuttle bus drivers throughout the tech industry—at Facebook, Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Genentech, Amtrak, Evernote and other companies. Warehouse and shipping workers with Google Express are also currently organizing with Local 853. The union is also negotiating industry-leading contracts for organized tech industry workers. 

The Teamsters Union is part of a growing movement of labor, faith and community-based organizations and workers challenging income inequality in Silicon Valley through an innovative partnership called Silicon Valley Rising. For more information, visit: http://siliconvalleyrising.org/. 

For more information on tech worker organizing with the Teamsters, visit: https://teamster.org/tech-drivers-deserve-union.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 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 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

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