TWU Members Secure Hiring and Seniority Rights (beat Tea Party County Exec Ed Mangano at privatizing

[Omaha Steve]

Source: TWU

In a major breakthrough, members of TWU Local 252 have confirmed the right to preferential hiring and union recognition with Veolia Transportation, selected by Nassau County to be the new private-sector contractor for LI Bus routes and operations.

“This is a huge victory for union solidarity and workers standing together,” said Pat Bowden, president of TWU Local 252, representing more than 930 workers at LI Bus. “Veolia told our members they had to re-apply for their current jobs as individuals. We said, ‘Actually, we’re in this together, and we’re going to apply together – as a union.’”

TWU Local 252 members who work at LI Bus will have preferential hiring rights for jobs with the new county bus service once they submit a completed job application. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, October 11; the company had previously insisted on a Sept. 30 deadline.

Hundreds of union members have already turned in their applications to Local 252, despite a company demand that applications be given directly to Veolia. “When the company saw that our union had hundreds of applications in hand they realized that working together is the best way to have a qualified workforce to deliver the safe, reliable service that Nassau County residents have come to expect,” said Bowden.

Read more: http://www.twu.org/international/article/1054/

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FULL press release at link above.

The story so far: Tea Party County Exec Ed Mangano wants to privatize LI Bus, the county's public bus system. He selected Veolia Transportation, which many of you probably know has a less then-stellar reputation in labor relations.

The company insisted that all 900+ workers had to re-apply for their old jobs (which probably means cherry picking out older, sicker workers, not to mention union supporters.) The union took the position that everyone should hand their job apps into the union hall, and they would be filed collectively, as a unit.

I can only imagine the pressure on workers who are uncertain about their job security, being asked to stand up to their supposed new employer. But 600+ people did exactly that -- and it worked. Veolia agreed today to preferential hiring, by seniority, and to recognize the union.

A really nice example, I think, of how workers get a better deal when we stick together.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Bravo!!!! Some good news!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: