PARSIPPANY — School bus drivers and aides at Student Transportation of America (STA) in Parsippany, overcame tough opposition from management Wednesday, voting decisively in favor of union representation by Teamsters Local 102 in Springfield Township.
The 78 bus workers are calling for improved working conditions, respect on the job and assurances that they will be paid for all hours worked.
“The union has already given us hope. Now it will bring us strength,” said Jose Alvarez, a driver with STA in Parsippany. “We are looking forward to negotiating a strong contract that puts an end to wage theft abuse and unfairness from management.”
The victory in Parsippany marks just the latest group of workers who have been successful in their organizing efforts at STA, the third-largest school bus operator in the country. Alvarez and his co-workers will join hundreds of STA employees represented by the Teamsters Union nationwide.
“We are very proud of this group of men and women. The workers stood strong as the company tried to put pressure on them and gave themselves an early Christmas gift,” said Kevin O’Connor, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 102.
The Teamsters’ Drive Up Standards campaign is a global campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the privatized school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, nearly 40,000 drivers, monitors, aides, attendants and mechanics have become Teamsters. For more information on the Drive Up Standards campaign, click here.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
