Vote for Chai

Bargaining Team Representative

Bargaining for a new contract begins February 1st, 2008. The district is financially strong, despite the statewide "structural budget crisis," and Fornero's financial mismanagement. Fornero's gone, but the School Board's still hell-bent against quality jobs and decent pay for blue-collar workers. They continue to pay tens of millions of dollars to contractors and high-priced consultants. But, they warn dedicated workers about millions of dollars in “necessary cuts.” The money’s there, they just don’t want to share with the likes of us –bus drivers and monitors.

This contract campaign is about winning respect for workers, not about budget cuts. It’s also about building a Union leadership that can be trusted to organize, fight for, and represent our interests. And, it’s about organizing the membership to fight for real gains!

I will aggressively represent, in the best interests of the entire membership, your right:

ü To know what the Bargaining Team is up to (regular reports)

ü To decide bargaining strategy and demands

ü To earn higher wages, better benefits & more paid time off!

ü To organize for stronger contracts, now and in the future!

Bargaining Team Elections:

Wenesday, Jan. 9th @ 9:30 a.m.

in the Drivers Lounge

Next Union Meeting: Mon., Jan. 14th

@ 9:30 a.m. in Balas—Be There!

 

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Vote for Chai

And a Powerful Bargaining Strategy

We all want and deserve a stronger contract, job security, and higher standards of living. But what will it take to get them?

In the past, Teamsters Local 214 officials haven’t fought for us. That’s why members hate the Union. But members haven’t organized to stop Union officials from abusing their power over us, and force them to represent us. If you pay dues, then the Union is your business!

Over the past decade, workers have sacrificed to save the District cash: paying more for insurance, getting less vacation time and lower wages. That’s how the District made it through crisis after crisis.

We must pressure the Board to win a stronger contract. We can’t legally strike, but we can organize community support, speak out, and picket. This is what it will take to win! If we sit by the sidelines grumbling, we will lose. If we don’t flex the muscle behind the Bargaining Team, the Board will disrespect us, all over again.

In the last conversation I ever had with brother Mark McClain, he basically said to me: “We are not second-class citizens.” There is real honor in our service. There is great value in our jobs. And, there is money in the District. We should not accept being treated as second-class citizens.

We can win if we organize and plan. This contract campaign can be the beginning of a long-term fight for what we need over the course of several contracts. It means we all must work together to demand what’s right from the Board, and to make our Union officials accountable to us.

Right now, we should minimally fight for things like:

ü 4.25% per year raise and a Cost Of Living Adjustment

ü A 2 year contract

ü More paid time off

ü No concessions

Eventually, we need things like:

ü Fully paid health, eye and dental coverage

ü All of our 20 vacation days back (for everyone)

ü Fully paid, 6-month maternity leave

ü Free child care

ü Real grievance procedure and real progressive discipline