Bus Drivers for Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga, Genentech Vote For Union Representation

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Forbes

Ellen Huet

Shuttle bus drivers for five tech companies — eBay, Apple, Yahoo, Genentech and Zynga — voted Friday afternoon to be represented by Teamsters Local 853, the union said, part of a larger push toward unionizing Silicon Valley’s legions of support workers.

The drivers’ decision mirrors that of Facebook shuttle drivers, who voted for union representation in November and this week landed a new, higher-paying contract that provides more benefits and pays a premium to drivers who work split shifts. Split shifts are shifts where drivers work morning and evenings but often can’t go home in between — sometimes working from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. but without pay for an eight-hour block of downtime.

Tech companies’ commuter shuttles and their drivers, who ferry workers up and down the Peninsula each day, were highlighted in debates on inequality in tech in the past year. Protesters often blocked tech buses to attract attention, and their drivers were shown to have grueling work schedules with gaps in pay.

Union leaders will now work to secure a similar contract for these new drivers as they did for Facebook’s drivers, who are employed by Loop Transportation, a Facebook contractor. The drivers in Friday’s vote all work for Compass Transportation, a larger bus shuttle bus contractor whose clients include eBay, Apple, Yahoo, Genentech, Zynga and Amtrak. Teamsters Local 853 president Rome Aloise said that the vote means about 65 percent of Valley bus drivers are now represented by the union, up from 15 percent before.

FULL story at link.



Bus drivers for Apple (whose employee shuttle is shown above), Yahoo, Genentech, eBay and Zynga voted for union representation on Friday. Drivers of the buses, which became a symbol of tech's effect on income inequality, are largely choosing to unionize. (AP/San Francisco Chronicle/Kurtis Alexander)

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/02/27/apple-yahoo-ebay-zynga-genentech-bus-driver-union-vote/

[Omaha Steve]

1. Vote to join Teamsters 140-38 as labor claims another Silicon Valley victory

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/02/27/apple-bus-drivers-vote-to-join-teamsters-140-38-as.html

Snip: Beyond working condition, some drivers said their wages didn't keep up with the region's cost of living. "We have drivers that live in their cars," he said. "That's a shame."

The 140-to-38 tally in favor of unionization still needs to be certified by the National Labor Relations Board, which gives five days for any objections to be filed. Teamsters International Vice President Rome Aloise suggested that the margin in favor of unionization is too large for objections to change the result.

The company that employs the drivers and contracts with some of the biggest names in tech, Compass Transportation, said in a statement it would wait to comment until after the NLRB certified the vote.

In earlier statements, Compass Senior Vice President Bryan O'Connell said the company paid wages competitive within in the industry and expressed concern about potential intimation during the vote.

FULL story at link.

[SusanCalvin]

2. How wonderful!

I haven't had too many smiles lately, so the big grin this produced was much appreciated. Oh, this makes me happy.

[cstanleytech]

3. Good for them. I wish fast food workers would unite together and form one giant union as well as

well as workers in the grocery industry.

[Enthusiast]

4. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[whereisjustice]

5. good news!