WHY SF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS MIGHT STRIKE

We seek to continue cost-of-living adjustments to protect our wages against inflation. Management refuses even though this has been in our contract since 1976. It is the only general wage increase we seek.

2. Restore Lost Income So We Can Support Ourselves and Our Families.

There are only 180 regular workdays in the school year. The average salary for drivers is only about $22,000 per year. Three years ago available work hours were reduced because of rescheduling kindergarten classes and other changes made by Laidlaw and the School District. A large number of drivers lost up to one-quarter of their income when work hours were reduced. Now Laidlaw drivers can't pay the Bay Area's high rents, are having purchases repossessed and mortgages jeopardized, are drastically cutting their standard of living, and are having to deny their families some of the basics of a decent life. All this has effected their mental and physical health.

Stable full-time jobs have been turned into high-turnover part-time jobs, forcing many long term experienced drivers to seek jobs elsewhere. Meanwhile a lot of our work is being diverted to other operations where wages are lower, where drivers are not certified and vehicles don't conform to state and nationel standards for school buses.

We want Laidlaw to restore lost income for those who seek more hours of work. Union members have offered to relax some work rules and to perform additional work to restore their incomes to a level sufficient to provide themselves and their families a reasonable standard of living, and to assure that experienced professional drivers are operating the buses that carry San Francisco's children.

3. Equity for Support staff

Dispatchers, yard workers, office and other support personnel are underpaid for the work they do. Their work is critical to the entire operation. They should receive pay equitable with that of drivers. We think Laidlaw should recognize that.

4. No Take-backs - No Cost-Shifting from Laidlaw to Employees

Over the years we have negotiated good health benefits, for which we pay some of the premiums. Laidlaw wants to shift more of the cost onto the backs of workers, while at the same time offering no real Improvement in our incomes. Laidlaw should accept its responsibility to continue paying its share of insurance costs.

5. Full Retroactivity

UTU members have been without a contract since July 31st. Any settlement should he retroactive to August 1st. Laidlaw should not get a windfall by virtue of its refusal to reach an acceptable agreement by the expiration of the contract.

We don't want to lose time from work; we don't want to inconvenience the children and parents. But we must defend out families and our patience has run out.

We ask your support to achieve an acceptable agreement without being forced to withhold our labor.

BUT IF WE DON'T GET A SETTLEMENT BY DECEMBER 1ST, WE'LL HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO STOP WORK IN DEFENSE OF OUR JOBS AND FAMILIES.