Idaho First Student Workers Choose Teamsters Union

Boise School Bus Workers Latest Group to Join Teamsters Nationwide

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- School bus drivers, aides and mechanics inBoise, Idaho are the latest group of school bus workers nationwide to join the Teamsters Union after a vote in favor of representation by Teamsters Local 483. The 203 workers inBoise join the nearly 12,000 school bus and transit workers who have become Teamster members since the Teamsters' campaign to raise standards in the industry began in 2006.

Like their coworkers across the nation, the Boise First Student workers united in order to make improvements to their wages and benefits, as well as gain a seniority system, grievance procedure and overall betterment of their working conditions through the negotiation of a Teamster contract.

"We are so excited," said Diana Lee Black, an aide with First Student inBoise. "We joined the Teamsters to make our workplace better. We work very hard and now we will be recognized and rewarded for all that we do."

"It's a great day inIdaho for the workers at First Student," said Mark Briggs, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 483. "I can't say enough about these workers. They stood together and they have a voice -- and we will exercise that to the fullest."

Briggs noted that workers inIdaho, a so-called "right-to-work" state, are also some of the lowest paid employees nationwide, and that Local 483 is looking forward to improving the wages and working conditions for the First Student workers.

TheBoise victory is the latest in a successful campaign by the Teamsters to raise standards for 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.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women inthe United States andCanada.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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