Monday, September 24, 2012

9/28 - Solidarity Day with Eastern Bus Drivers

Solidarity Day with Eastern Bus USW Drivers Friday Sept 28, 2012 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Eastern’s Somerville bus yard 14 Chestnut St., Somerville

Negotiate NOW! Contract Justice! STOP Winitzer’s Union-Busting! REHIRE Fired Drivers! STOP Harassment & Attacks on the Drivers! Eastern drivers work hard, providing safe, on-time transportation to the students of Cambridge,Somerville, Brookline, Wellesley, Waltham, Belmont, and METCO. They come largely from the region’s immigrant communities-- Haitian, Caribbean, Central and Latin American. They are subjected to horrendous working conditions. They receive virtually no benefits; they have no seniority; they have no grievance protections. Eastern illegally fails to pay overtime and pays arbitrary and unfair wage rates.

On June 18th, in an election held under the auspices of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the members of Eastern won the right to be represented by the United Steelworkers. We must defend collective bargaining rights at Eastern and stop the Company’s illegal conduct! Since the election, the Company has fired two Union leaders on trumped up charges; committed dozens of Unfair Labor Practices;illegally lowered the wage right; installed surveillance cameras throughout the facilities, and have subjected the Union drivers to daily harassment. The Company’s stall tactic of a frivolous challenge of the election was overturned by the NLRB on August 23rd. Now, in a further stall tactic, they have appealed to Washington, DC. These workers want to exercise their democratic right to collectively bargain. Winitzer cannot be allowed to flaunt the law. JOIN US IN STANDING WITH THESE WORKERS AND DEFEND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS!

The workers’ campaign has received the endorsement of Labor and Community throughout the region, including the Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts, Vice Mayor of Cambridge E. Denise Simmons, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 2222, Bishop Felipe Teixeira, and scores of others. As the time-tested Union motto says: An Injury to One Is An Injury to All! Labor and the community will stand with the Eastern workers to win our rights! Sponsored by: United Steelworkers, International Union

No comments:

Post a Comment