Baltimore School Bus Workers Vote to Join Union

School bus drivers and monitors at Durham School Services in Baltimore voted to join Teamsters Local 570. The workers provide pupil transportation services for Baltimore public schools. The group of 123 drivers and monitors voted by a 94% margin to join the union, according to a press release.

"We want across the board equal pay – for drivers and attendants," said school bus monitor Laverne Harris, who served on the union organizing committee. "Whatever the highest pay rate is for drivers and attendants, all of the workers who have been there long enough should get that."

Ronda Budd, a driver for the facility, previously worked for a union bus yard in Philadelphia. Matthew McQuaid, communications project manager for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said Budd brought her union experience to her job in Baltimore and wanted her colleagues to have the same experience. McQuaid calls it the "union difference."

"Congratulations to these workers who stood strong and fought hard to win union recognition," said Moe Jackson, Local 570 Vice President. "The courage, enthusiasm and solidarity from this group of people is inspiring. I know when these workers go to the bargaining table to negotiate their first contract they will do amazing work together."

The Teamsters represent more than 50,000 school bus drivers and monitors.