Get your stickers! Put 'em everywhere including on your favorite pet's back! Contact [email protected]
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Bay Area Transit Workers Stand in Solidarity with CCTA Drivers
On behalf of the 900 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, I am proud to express our support for the hard-working men and women of Teamsters Local 597 in their struggle to protect the wages, benefits, working conditions, and basic collective bargaining rights workers have fought for and deserve. We know from our own experience at BART that workers do not take the decision to withhold their labor lightly; it is a hardship that workers undergo to stand up to defend what workers before them have fought for, and to demand the fair treatment they are due. After enduring two strikes of our own this past year, it is inspiring to see the members of Teamsters Local 597 standing up with such strength!
Employers often underestimate the strength of workers standing together and what those workers can achieve. In the past several years, attacks on public sector unions have increased, with the goal of wiping out the collective voice of workers. The effects harm not only unionized workers, but all workers, since workers standing together set standards for others. The attacks on public sector workers are not only attacks on workers, but an attack on public service and those that depend on public services. These are often the more disenfranchised members of our communities. As workers, community members, and those who depend on public service have come to see such attacks for what they are, public support has increased for those workers willing and able to hold the line against such attacks. For this, we applaud the members of Teamsters Local 597 for standing strong and the community that stands with them.
ATU 1555 calls on the CCTA to end their needless attacks on the men and women who make the CCTA work. Unless management is willing to accept the same conditions they ask of their workers, management has no right to ask those who make the system work to give up more time from their families and lives for a longer day.
On behalf of the members of ATU Local 1555 and in solidarity with the members of Teamsters Local 597,
Chris Finn
President / Business Agent, ATU Local 1555, Oakland, CA
Employers often underestimate the strength of workers standing together and what those workers can achieve. In the past several years, attacks on public sector unions have increased, with the goal of wiping out the collective voice of workers. The effects harm not only unionized workers, but all workers, since workers standing together set standards for others. The attacks on public sector workers are not only attacks on workers, but an attack on public service and those that depend on public services. These are often the more disenfranchised members of our communities. As workers, community members, and those who depend on public service have come to see such attacks for what they are, public support has increased for those workers willing and able to hold the line against such attacks. For this, we applaud the members of Teamsters Local 597 for standing strong and the community that stands with them.
ATU 1555 calls on the CCTA to end their needless attacks on the men and women who make the CCTA work. Unless management is willing to accept the same conditions they ask of their workers, management has no right to ask those who make the system work to give up more time from their families and lives for a longer day.
On behalf of the members of ATU Local 1555 and in solidarity with the members of Teamsters Local 597,
Chris Finn
President / Business Agent, ATU Local 1555, Oakland, CA
Nurses Occupying North Adams Hospital Send solidarity to bus drivers!
Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans Supports Striking Bus Drivers
Vermont Retirees are shocked to learn CCTA treats drivers so poorly
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2014
Contact: Jane Osgatharp @ [email protected] Jennifer Kenny @ [email protected]
Burlington—Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans were extremely disappointed to learn that Chittenden County Transportation Authority will not work with Bus Drivers to ensure a safe and secure work environment.
VT ARA President Jane Osgatharp expressed her disappointment with Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA): CCTA has prospered and grown as a result of their dedicated work force. CCTA drivers show up in all weather conditions to drive us to our destinations. Before the strike our members were unaware of the 13.5 hour shift that CCTA has proposed. Neither did we realize that drivers were not allowed to schedule their own rest room breaks, or that drivers were threatened with replacement by part-time workers. This type of forced control can only be explained as a company ploy to manipulate and demoralize the workforce. It is truly a shame that CCTA Board of Commissioners has allowed the deterioration of work place conditions that led to this strike. Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans supports our Burlington Bus Drivers efforts to ensure workplace dignity and respect.
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2014
Contact: Jane Osgatharp @ [email protected] Jennifer Kenny @ [email protected]
Burlington—Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans were extremely disappointed to learn that Chittenden County Transportation Authority will not work with Bus Drivers to ensure a safe and secure work environment.
VT ARA President Jane Osgatharp expressed her disappointment with Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA): CCTA has prospered and grown as a result of their dedicated work force. CCTA drivers show up in all weather conditions to drive us to our destinations. Before the strike our members were unaware of the 13.5 hour shift that CCTA has proposed. Neither did we realize that drivers were not allowed to schedule their own rest room breaks, or that drivers were threatened with replacement by part-time workers. This type of forced control can only be explained as a company ploy to manipulate and demoralize the workforce. It is truly a shame that CCTA Board of Commissioners has allowed the deterioration of work place conditions that led to this strike. Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans supports our Burlington Bus Drivers efforts to ensure workplace dignity and respect.
Vermont AFL-CIO Supports CCTA Workers
The Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO strongly supports the CCTA workers in their resolve to win a contract that addresses restrictions on split shifts, predatory management practices, driver intimidation, limits on the use of part-time drivers, and protections that ensure drivers can bring their concerns to management without fear of retaliation and will continue to do so.
Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine & New Hampshire AFSCME Members Back Drivers
“AFSCME Council 93 extends our full support to the leaders and members of Teamsters Local 557 as they work to secure a fair and equitable contract agreement with the Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA). The decision to strike is never easy but in this instance, our Teamster brothers and sisters had no other option. It’s our hope that CCTA management will put the vital transportation needs of the public ahead of their anti-union agenda and provide the workers with the contract they deserve. Until then, the members of Local 557 have the full support of the more than 45,000 members we represent in Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.”
Frank Moroney, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 93
Frank Moroney, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 93
Champlain Valley Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Supports Bus Drivers at CCTA
The Champlain Valley Labor Council is the AFL-CIO's Central Labor Council covering affiliated union locals in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties in northwestern Vermont. The Champlain Valley Labor Council stands in full support and solidarity with striking bus drivers at CCTA in their struggle with CCTA management. We applaud the rank and file bus drivers and their union negotiating committee and appreciate their stance against the erosion of dignity in the workplace. We agree that split shifts are bad enough; the overall span of a split shift should not be made longer. We agree that proposals to increase the number of part-time bus driver positions are not compatible with maintaining decent, livable jobs for full-time bus drivers. We agree that bus drivers should not be subject to constant video and other electronic surveillance. This strike is not about money; it's about dignity. The Champlain Valley Labor Council supports the bus drivers in their stance against further concessions, and we call upon CCTA management to bargain in good faith recognizing that their bus drivers play the most important role in their entire organization.
Submitted by CVLC Executive Board
Submitted by CVLC Executive Board
UE Stands with the CCTA Bus Drivers
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Northeast Region is proud to stand with the drivers of the CCTA as they take action to ensure a fair contract that addresses key issues of public safety, quality of life and livable jobs for the drivers of Local 597.
Members of many UE locals use the CCTA bus services daily to get to and from work and we are in solidarity with the drivers standing up for a fair contract that respects rights and dignity in the workplace. Accessible rest room breaks, maintenance of full time work and a workplace free of retaliation allows drivers to focus on getting passengers and themselves to destination on time and safely without hazardous ongoing distractions.
We call upon the CCTA Commissioners, and the elected officials in areas served by CCTA to insist upon CCTA managements return to the bargaining table in good faith to negotiate a contract that contains the key demands of dignity, respect and safety needed by the drivers. This includes protections to ensure that drivers bringing forth their safety concerns will be free of retaliation, has limits on use of part-time drivers, contains protections against predatory management, and restrictions on splits shift lengths. We stand with the CCTA drivers on issues of public safety, quality of life and livable jobs to be resolved in a respectful manner with a fair contract.
Members of many UE locals use the CCTA bus services daily to get to and from work and we are in solidarity with the drivers standing up for a fair contract that respects rights and dignity in the workplace. Accessible rest room breaks, maintenance of full time work and a workplace free of retaliation allows drivers to focus on getting passengers and themselves to destination on time and safely without hazardous ongoing distractions.
We call upon the CCTA Commissioners, and the elected officials in areas served by CCTA to insist upon CCTA managements return to the bargaining table in good faith to negotiate a contract that contains the key demands of dignity, respect and safety needed by the drivers. This includes protections to ensure that drivers bringing forth their safety concerns will be free of retaliation, has limits on use of part-time drivers, contains protections against predatory management, and restrictions on splits shift lengths. We stand with the CCTA drivers on issues of public safety, quality of life and livable jobs to be resolved in a respectful manner with a fair contract.
Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals solidarity statement for CCTA bus drivers
The Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals stands in solidarity with the CCTA drivers in their struggle for a fair contract that ensures a safe and respectful workplace. Health professionals know first hand how unsafe working conditions impact our ability to provide safe and quality services. The community witnessed first hand the professional skills of our bus drivers during the incredibly difficult conditions caused by the recent snowstorm.
We call on CCTA management to respect their hard working professionals and stop the delay tactics, and on the elected officials of the areas served by CCTA to insist that CCTA management settle a contract that protects the drivers and our community: a contract that contains at a minimum the key demands of the drivers, including reasonable restrictions on split shifts, robust protections against predatory management and driver intimidation - including the ability to take rest room breaks, appropriate limits on the use of part-time drivers, and protections that ensure drivers can bring their concerns and safety recommendations to management without fear of retaliation.
We call on CCTA management to respect their hard working professionals and stop the delay tactics, and on the elected officials of the areas served by CCTA to insist that CCTA management settle a contract that protects the drivers and our community: a contract that contains at a minimum the key demands of the drivers, including reasonable restrictions on split shifts, robust protections against predatory management and driver intimidation - including the ability to take rest room breaks, appropriate limits on the use of part-time drivers, and protections that ensure drivers can bring their concerns and safety recommendations to management without fear of retaliation.
VSEA in Solidarity with CCTA Drivers' on Strike
“The Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, on behalf of its 5400 members, stands in solidarity with Teamster Local 597 bus drivers in their fight to secure a fair contract from the Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA). We call today on CCTA management to work collectively with its drivers to negotiate a new contract that affords them dignity and respect on the job, a fair process to report safety and health issues, appropriate limits on the use of part-time drivers and reasonable work schedules. The VSEA Board also calls on elected officials representing areas served by CCTA to join our call for CCTA management to return to the bargaining table and agree to a fair contract.”
In advance of Monday’s strike, VSEA members are invited to support the drivers this weekend by:
In advance of Monday’s strike, VSEA members are invited to support the drivers this weekend by:
- Attending an informational picket and speak tonight from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the bus terminal located at Church and Cherry streets. There will be picketing and leafleting from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and the Speak Out begins at 5:00 p.m. It will feature CCTA bus riders who will live without a bus to support the drivers, religious leaders and link bus commuters.
- Volunteering on Saturday, March 15, to help the drivers and their supporters canvas door-to-door with flyers explaining why the drivers will strike and what Vermonters can do to help. There’s an urgent need for 75 leaflet volunteers. The average route is one hour. Volunteers can pick leaflets up at the Vermont Workers Center (294 No. Winooski Ave.) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you can't get there between those hours call Matt at 373-0133 and we can arrange a time for you to get your leaflets.
- Attending a Sunday, March 16, strike kick-off meeting at the Workers’ Center, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Meet and hear from drivers, find out how you can assist on picket lines, learn plans for pickets during the week and help make signs. Pizza and drinks!
UVM Faculty Union Supports CCTA Drivers and Strike Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/14/2014
CONTACT:
Denise Youngblood, President, United Academics
[email protected]
The Executive Council of United Academics, the faculty union of the University of Vermont, stands in solidarity with the CCTA drivers in their struggle for a fair contract that ensures a safe and respectful workplace. We call on the CCTA Commissioners, and on the elected officials of the areas served by CCTA, to insist that CCTA management return to the table in good faith to negotiate a contract that protects the drivers and our community: a contract that contains at a minimum the key demands of the drivers, including reasonable restrictions on split shifts, robust protections against predatory management and driver intimidation, appropriate limits on the use of part-time drivers, and protections that ensure drivers can bring their concerns and safety recommendations to management without fear of retaliation.
CONTACT:
Denise Youngblood, President, United Academics
[email protected]
The Executive Council of United Academics, the faculty union of the University of Vermont, stands in solidarity with the CCTA drivers in their struggle for a fair contract that ensures a safe and respectful workplace. We call on the CCTA Commissioners, and on the elected officials of the areas served by CCTA, to insist that CCTA management return to the table in good faith to negotiate a contract that protects the drivers and our community: a contract that contains at a minimum the key demands of the drivers, including reasonable restrictions on split shifts, robust protections against predatory management and driver intimidation, appropriate limits on the use of part-time drivers, and protections that ensure drivers can bring their concerns and safety recommendations to management without fear of retaliation.
Champlain Valley Teacher Leaders Solidarity Letter
March 13, 2014
Dear Burlington School Commissioners,
We represent hundreds of public school educators who work in the schools throughout Chittenden County. The CCTA contract crisis underway and potential strike causes us great concern as community members and educators. The Burlington School District is a major stakeholder in this contract crisis because it utilizes CCTA buses to transport Burlington children to school each day. The recent discussion to consider hiring other bus companies to transport students in the case of a strike is not the answer. If you chose to take this action, the Burlington School Board will not help to bring resolution to the contract crisis. Instead, you will be taking steps that would extend the crisis by taking work away from hard working CCTA bus drivers, who are exercising their legal and democratic right to refuse to work over a labor dispute. The CCTA bus drivers deserve our support to settle a fair contract. They also deserve our respect as they use the legal process afforded publically employed workers in Vermont.
The CCTA bus drivers are calling for safe and reasonable working conditions regarding their work shifts and livable wage jobs with decent benefits. The Burlington schools directly benefit from safer working conditions for CCTA bus drivers because these professionals drive your children. More importantly, the Burlington schools went through their own process of agreeing to pay livable wages in 2007 to all school staff because the community spoke out and called for livable wages. As an extension of this clear message from your community, you should do what you can to help resolve this contract crisis and not make it more complicated by hiring outside drivers.
Regardless of how you feel about the details of the issues on the bargaining table, we can all agree that a fair and expedited contract is in the best interest of Burlington, especially its school children. Given that, it is not advisable to hire outsiders to drive students to school in the event of a strike. Please do what you can to call for a quick and fair settlement.
Sincerely,
Joel Lagrow, President, Essex-Junction/Westford Education Association
Matt Webb and James Pape, Co-Presidents, Winooski Education Association
Joanne Davidman, President, Milton Education and Staff Association
Joe Cheney, President, Colchester Education Association
Kathy Buley, Co-President, South Burlington Educators’ Association
Eric Krull, President, Green Mountain NEA
Dear Burlington School Commissioners,
We represent hundreds of public school educators who work in the schools throughout Chittenden County. The CCTA contract crisis underway and potential strike causes us great concern as community members and educators. The Burlington School District is a major stakeholder in this contract crisis because it utilizes CCTA buses to transport Burlington children to school each day. The recent discussion to consider hiring other bus companies to transport students in the case of a strike is not the answer. If you chose to take this action, the Burlington School Board will not help to bring resolution to the contract crisis. Instead, you will be taking steps that would extend the crisis by taking work away from hard working CCTA bus drivers, who are exercising their legal and democratic right to refuse to work over a labor dispute. The CCTA bus drivers deserve our support to settle a fair contract. They also deserve our respect as they use the legal process afforded publically employed workers in Vermont.
The CCTA bus drivers are calling for safe and reasonable working conditions regarding their work shifts and livable wage jobs with decent benefits. The Burlington schools directly benefit from safer working conditions for CCTA bus drivers because these professionals drive your children. More importantly, the Burlington schools went through their own process of agreeing to pay livable wages in 2007 to all school staff because the community spoke out and called for livable wages. As an extension of this clear message from your community, you should do what you can to help resolve this contract crisis and not make it more complicated by hiring outside drivers.
Regardless of how you feel about the details of the issues on the bargaining table, we can all agree that a fair and expedited contract is in the best interest of Burlington, especially its school children. Given that, it is not advisable to hire outsiders to drive students to school in the event of a strike. Please do what you can to call for a quick and fair settlement.
Sincerely,
Joel Lagrow, President, Essex-Junction/Westford Education Association
Matt Webb and James Pape, Co-Presidents, Winooski Education Association
Joanne Davidman, President, Milton Education and Staff Association
Joe Cheney, President, Colchester Education Association
Kathy Buley, Co-President, South Burlington Educators’ Association
Eric Krull, President, Green Mountain NEA
Vermont-National Education Association member petition
Chittenden County Bus Drivers Have Our Support
To: Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA)
We, the undersigned educators in Chittenden County, call on the Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA) to settle a fair contract with its bus drivers.
Why is this important?
Many young Vermonters depend on our hard-working, experienced CCTA bus drivers to get to school every day. These bus drivers fight dangerous weather conditions and aggressive drivers to ensure that our students arrive to school safely.
Today, CCTA bus drivers voted to strike after months of being pressured by the transit authority to accept serious (and sometimes dangerous) changes to their contract. The bus drivers already work 12.5-hour shifts, but CCTA wanted its drivers to agree to 13.5-hour shifts. CCTA also wanted to transition to more part-time positions, leaving more Vermont families without dependable, full-time employment.
A strike by CCTA bus drivers would interrupt bus service for thousands of Vermonters, including many of our students. In Burlington, local school children rely on the public buses to get to school, and the vast majority of students who will struggle to find alternative transportation to school during a strike are students who come from lower socio-economic families. We're calling on CCTA to avert this crisis by settling a fair contract for its bus drivers.
Our students' public bus drivers deserve safe working conditions and fair treatment. We're speaking up for them, and we hope you'll join us by adding your name.
We, the undersigned educators in Chittenden County, call on the Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA) to settle a fair contract with its bus drivers.
Why is this important?
Many young Vermonters depend on our hard-working, experienced CCTA bus drivers to get to school every day. These bus drivers fight dangerous weather conditions and aggressive drivers to ensure that our students arrive to school safely.
Today, CCTA bus drivers voted to strike after months of being pressured by the transit authority to accept serious (and sometimes dangerous) changes to their contract. The bus drivers already work 12.5-hour shifts, but CCTA wanted its drivers to agree to 13.5-hour shifts. CCTA also wanted to transition to more part-time positions, leaving more Vermont families without dependable, full-time employment.
A strike by CCTA bus drivers would interrupt bus service for thousands of Vermonters, including many of our students. In Burlington, local school children rely on the public buses to get to school, and the vast majority of students who will struggle to find alternative transportation to school during a strike are students who come from lower socio-economic families. We're calling on CCTA to avert this crisis by settling a fair contract for its bus drivers.
Our students' public bus drivers deserve safe working conditions and fair treatment. We're speaking up for them, and we hope you'll join us by adding your name.
Vermont Progressive Party solidarity statement
The Vermont Progressive Party is greatly concerned that CCTA management is irresponsibly provoking a massive transit strike as soon as March 10th. A strike would negatively impact not only CCTA drivers and CCTA management, but also thousands of Vermonters who rely on public transportation on a daily basis. For months management has persisted in pursuing a bargaining agenda that disregards the drivers’ justified concerns for livable jobs, dignified working conditions, and safety. As a result the drivers voted overwhelmingly (53-4) to reject management’s last best offer. Management’s push to extend the length of split-shifts, which means having fatigued and overworked drivers on the road, would impact public safety, flies in the face of national safety standards concerning driver fatigue, and destroys drivers' family life. Management is also insisting on hiring more part-time workers (without benefits). To make ends meet, part timers would also have to work other jobs, contributing to fatigue and possible safety issues. Besides, Vermont needs full-time, family wage jobs. Drivers describe a predatory management style, which includes disciplinary abuse, surveillance, and harassment by supervisors. There is something seriously wrong with how CCTA runs. CCTA drivers deserve fair treatment in their job and at the bargaining table. And Vermonters need a safe and environmentally responsible mass transit system, with humane conditions for the drivers that make it run. We call on CCTA management and CCTA commissioners to bargain a fair contract that respects the drivers and meets the public interest.
Burlington City councilors letter to ccta management
March 17, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
We, the undersigned members of Burlington’s City Council are writing in solidarity with the Chittenden County Transportation Association’s organized bus drivers and calling on management to deliver a fair contract that improves public safety and working conditions.
Earlier this week, what’s now being called snowstorm Vulcan delivered up to two feet of snow around Chittenden County. Schools closed, businesses delayed openings, food bank deliveries were canceled, and people struggled to get out of their driveways. The only thing it didn’t slow down was the bus drivers who got us where we needed to be, safely and soundly, as a blizzard raged all around.
A strike will have a major impact on Burlington and the region. Over 9,700 riders a day rely on the drivers to receive transport to school, to work, to medical care, to grocery stores and drug stores, to visit and care for relatives who live one town over. The loss of these essential transportation services will disproportionately impact low income Vermonters, who may not be able to avail themselves of other options.
And yet, the support for the bus drivers has been unwavering. Riders are standing up and announcing their solidarity, day by day. Earlier this week, Burlington high school students delivered a petition to City Council in support of the drivers. In one day, they amassed 500 signatures -- almost half the student body. Environmental and social justice student activists at UVM are rising up with a unified voice. In a near unanimous vote, the Burlington school board voted to stand with the drivers in their efforts, rather than to hire non-union workers in the event of a strike. Working people are turning out to rallies and pickets on cold winter mornings and nights; sister unions including the Vermont NEA, the Vermont Federation of Nurses, United Electrics, United Academics and the Vermont State Employees Association are voicing unity.
Drivers are asking for basic rights that everyone understands: reasonable working hours, the security of full time work, and the right to collective bargaining in the face of management conditions that by many accounts include surveillance, bullying, and disrespect. Vermont needs more full time workers who can support families without having to juggle multiple jobs, not more part-time workers without benefits. Vermont and Burlington deserve drivers who can operate safely, without being pushed to the point of exhaustion or intimidation. We deserve a robust transportation system that helps us protect our environment, not one that undermines the principles of sustainability by devaluing the very workers who make it run.
When unionized drivers agree to strike in a unanimous vote, rather than accept the terms of a contract, despite the risks to their livelihoods and their families, it signals a deep concern for the existing working conditions. We call on CCTA to deliver a fair contract to drivers.
Sincerely,
Vince Brennan, Ward 3 City Council
Rachel Siegel, Ward 3 City Council
Max Tracy, Ward 2 City Council
Selene Colburn, Ward 1 City Councilor-elect
To Whom It May Concern:
We, the undersigned members of Burlington’s City Council are writing in solidarity with the Chittenden County Transportation Association’s organized bus drivers and calling on management to deliver a fair contract that improves public safety and working conditions.
Earlier this week, what’s now being called snowstorm Vulcan delivered up to two feet of snow around Chittenden County. Schools closed, businesses delayed openings, food bank deliveries were canceled, and people struggled to get out of their driveways. The only thing it didn’t slow down was the bus drivers who got us where we needed to be, safely and soundly, as a blizzard raged all around.
A strike will have a major impact on Burlington and the region. Over 9,700 riders a day rely on the drivers to receive transport to school, to work, to medical care, to grocery stores and drug stores, to visit and care for relatives who live one town over. The loss of these essential transportation services will disproportionately impact low income Vermonters, who may not be able to avail themselves of other options.
And yet, the support for the bus drivers has been unwavering. Riders are standing up and announcing their solidarity, day by day. Earlier this week, Burlington high school students delivered a petition to City Council in support of the drivers. In one day, they amassed 500 signatures -- almost half the student body. Environmental and social justice student activists at UVM are rising up with a unified voice. In a near unanimous vote, the Burlington school board voted to stand with the drivers in their efforts, rather than to hire non-union workers in the event of a strike. Working people are turning out to rallies and pickets on cold winter mornings and nights; sister unions including the Vermont NEA, the Vermont Federation of Nurses, United Electrics, United Academics and the Vermont State Employees Association are voicing unity.
Drivers are asking for basic rights that everyone understands: reasonable working hours, the security of full time work, and the right to collective bargaining in the face of management conditions that by many accounts include surveillance, bullying, and disrespect. Vermont needs more full time workers who can support families without having to juggle multiple jobs, not more part-time workers without benefits. Vermont and Burlington deserve drivers who can operate safely, without being pushed to the point of exhaustion or intimidation. We deserve a robust transportation system that helps us protect our environment, not one that undermines the principles of sustainability by devaluing the very workers who make it run.
When unionized drivers agree to strike in a unanimous vote, rather than accept the terms of a contract, despite the risks to their livelihoods and their families, it signals a deep concern for the existing working conditions. We call on CCTA to deliver a fair contract to drivers.
Sincerely,
Vince Brennan, Ward 3 City Council
Rachel Siegel, Ward 3 City Council
Max Tracy, Ward 2 City Council
Selene Colburn, Ward 1 City Councilor-elect
New Americans, CCTA Drivers & Respect
In my work on refugee resettlement in Vermont I've seen how important public transit is for immigrants making the adjustment to a new place. Having access to jobs, classes, doctors' appointments, and shopping are all important factors in rebuilding refugee lives. It isn't just the transit system in general that's important, however; refugees who I interviewed have spoken highly of CCTA bus drivers in particular, as helpful, courteous, professional, and understanding. It's important to recognize also that New Americans are increasingly joining CCTA as workers -- like their colleagues they are deserving of a respectful, equitable, and fair working environment. This means respecting their right to a fair wage, recognizing and valuing their background and experience, realizing the burdens that splitting shifts and relying on part-time, no-benefit positions place on families, and creating a positive and non-discriminatory work environment. These are all objectives the union has been fighting for on behalf of CCTA workers and they are values that New Americans -- like all of their colleagues -- deserve to have respected in this negotiation.
Pablo S. Bose, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography, University of Vermont
Pablo S. Bose, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography, University of Vermont
Capital District Area Labor Federation (Albany, NY) in Support of Bus Drivers
Massachusetts Nurses Association at Baystate Franklin Medical Center Solidarity
STATEMENT FROM THE BARGAINING UNIT CO-CHAIRS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS NURSES ASSOCIATION AT BAYSTATE FRANKLIN MEDICAL CENTER - LINDA JUDD, RN & DONNA STERN, RN
MARCH 4, 2014
WE STAND WITH THE STRIKING CCTA BUS DRIVERS!
The nurses of the Massachusetts Nurses Association at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, MA, stand with our sisters and brothers of the Teamsters Union at CCTA, in their fight for safe and reasonable working conditions, full-time employment, and the end of predatory management tactics. When the management at CCTA places profits over providing what is necessary for maintaining safe transportation, then the CCTA bus drivers must take action to protect the communities they serve.
MARCH 4, 2014
WE STAND WITH THE STRIKING CCTA BUS DRIVERS!
The nurses of the Massachusetts Nurses Association at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, MA, stand with our sisters and brothers of the Teamsters Union at CCTA, in their fight for safe and reasonable working conditions, full-time employment, and the end of predatory management tactics. When the management at CCTA places profits over providing what is necessary for maintaining safe transportation, then the CCTA bus drivers must take action to protect the communities they serve.
Representative Susan Hatch Davis Solidarity Letter to Bill Watterson
Dear Bill,
As a member of the Vermont General Assembly and a Co-Chair of the Legislative Working Vermonters Caucus I am naturally concerned with the welfare of our communities. Like me, I am sure you recognize that Vermont’s hardworking families are our greatest economic assets. I also recognize that good paying jobs are harder and harder to come by and the pressure on working families is real and growing. Vermont needs more full time workers who can support families without having to juggle multiple jobs, not more part-time workers without benefits.
So, I am writing in solidarity with the Chittenden County Transportation Association’s organized bus drivers and calling on management to deliver a fair contract that improves public safety and working conditions. There is still time for Chittenden County Transportation Association to do the right thing. Anything else sells Vermont short.
I call on CCTA to deliver a fair contract to drivers.
Sincerely,
Representative Susan Hatch Davis
As a member of the Vermont General Assembly and a Co-Chair of the Legislative Working Vermonters Caucus I am naturally concerned with the welfare of our communities. Like me, I am sure you recognize that Vermont’s hardworking families are our greatest economic assets. I also recognize that good paying jobs are harder and harder to come by and the pressure on working families is real and growing. Vermont needs more full time workers who can support families without having to juggle multiple jobs, not more part-time workers without benefits.
So, I am writing in solidarity with the Chittenden County Transportation Association’s organized bus drivers and calling on management to deliver a fair contract that improves public safety and working conditions. There is still time for Chittenden County Transportation Association to do the right thing. Anything else sells Vermont short.
I call on CCTA to deliver a fair contract to drivers.
Sincerely,
Representative Susan Hatch Davis
UE Local 267 Support for CCTA Drivers
UE Local 267, the unionized trades and maintenance workers of UVM, stands in solidarity with the CCTA strikers of Teamsters Local 597 in their battle for a fair contract. It has become increasingly clear in recent years that the bosses are leading a race to the bottom. The issues that the drivers are striking over are the same issues that workers all over the country are faced with. Cutbacks, abusive work rules, the drive to push us into low wage, part time jobs with unlivable schedules. At every workplace the bosses are attacking our unions and trying to pit us against each other. But our unions remain united, our resolve won’t be broken. The only way to beat back this corporate anti-worker assault is to follow the example of Local 597 and stand together in militant united action.
We value equity, dignity, respect and safety in the workplace. These are universal rights that every worker deserves and the CCTA drivers deserve this and more. A safe workplace free from abusive schedules, arbitrary discipline and predatory management are reasonable expectations and it is unconscionable that CCTA management refuses to agree to a contract that would afford these basic protections to their employees.
We are committed to supporting our brothers and sisters during their fight for a fair contract- and fight we will. We will not tolerate a climate where management terrorizes its workers. We will not tolerate a climate where workers are denied the right to use restrooms, where they are forced to sleep in their cars because of irrational and abusive schedules. We demand that CCTA management come to the table and meet every remaining demand of Local 597. The time for compromise is over; the time for sacrifice is done. Stand tall brothers and sisters you are fighting a battle for all workers. You are leading in a fight for a future where we won’t be relegated to part time, low wage jobs. Power concedes nothing without demand, and your bold strike is showing the bosses that workers everywhere demand jobs with dignity, justice and will settle for nothing less.
We do the work. We create the wealth. We have built the cities, we paved the roads and we drive the busses. Nothing moves without us. Without our brains and muscle not a single wheel can turn. Victory to the strikers! Power to the workers! Fair contract now!
We value equity, dignity, respect and safety in the workplace. These are universal rights that every worker deserves and the CCTA drivers deserve this and more. A safe workplace free from abusive schedules, arbitrary discipline and predatory management are reasonable expectations and it is unconscionable that CCTA management refuses to agree to a contract that would afford these basic protections to their employees.
We are committed to supporting our brothers and sisters during their fight for a fair contract- and fight we will. We will not tolerate a climate where management terrorizes its workers. We will not tolerate a climate where workers are denied the right to use restrooms, where they are forced to sleep in their cars because of irrational and abusive schedules. We demand that CCTA management come to the table and meet every remaining demand of Local 597. The time for compromise is over; the time for sacrifice is done. Stand tall brothers and sisters you are fighting a battle for all workers. You are leading in a fight for a future where we won’t be relegated to part time, low wage jobs. Power concedes nothing without demand, and your bold strike is showing the bosses that workers everywhere demand jobs with dignity, justice and will settle for nothing less.
We do the work. We create the wealth. We have built the cities, we paved the roads and we drive the busses. Nothing moves without us. Without our brains and muscle not a single wheel can turn. Victory to the strikers! Power to the workers! Fair contract now!