National Press Release

Gulfport and Bay Saint Louis First Student Workers Unite for Improvements

WASHINGTON, April 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Student drivers and monitors in Gulfport and Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, have voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters Union. Like their First Student coworkers across the country, the new members of Teamsters Local 891 sought improvements to their working conditions, including fair pay, affordable and decent health insurance and respect from their employer.

"My main reason for joining the Teamsters is the treatment, and we need to get our fair share for what we do," said Hugh McGee, a five-year driver. "The Teamsters will do the job to help us get what we need."

The drivers and monitors worked diligently to gain Teamster representation, and received assistance from Local 891 and the International Union. The results of their hard work are demonstrated in the strong vote margin, 47-9.

"I would like to welcome our newest members to the Teamsters Union and commend them for their dedication to their jobs and for their determination to become Teamsters," said Willie Smith, President of Local 891 and Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 87. "We look forward to negotiations to allow these workers to have a voice in the improvements they need at work."

This is the fourth group of First Student workers to join Local 891. In September, 316 First Student workers in Canton, Raymond and Yazoo City voted overwhelmingly to join Local 891.

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 16,500 workers have become Teamsters.

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

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters