Workers Picket Laidlaw In Protest....NOT On Strike
In a rousing show of concern and defiance toward the Company's recent actions, many members protested with homemade signs and handed out informational fliers to cars passing by.
Now our local neighborhood is well aware that things at Laidlaw are not business as usual. The protest was attended by Steve Zeltzer of the Labor Video Project. He video taped the event for his cable labor network. He requested any video materials we might have of our union events to air on his program. He also discussed the possibility of UTU 1741 having our own weekly labor television program !
We wanted to make it clear that this was not a strike. We are deeply committed to the children of S.F. With the fliers we told the community that we have been working for a month without a contract. We let them know that the company refuses to negotiate with the rank and file present and most importantly, we asked for their support to help defend our rights, our families, our contract and our jobs.
We are continuing to turn up the heat on the Company. At 7 am Wednesday September 1st, Susan Morehead very articulately voiced our concerns over the air waves on KPFA's labor program.
Jim Harford mentioned that he got calls from a few radio stations, and Bay TV called and may contact us to do a segment for their channel 4. During the Committee meeting after the protest Susan got a phone call from a Chinese Newspaper that has one of the largest circulation's in Oakland.
Drivers seem clear that they are going to fight fora living wage. We are a very valuable and stable work force - a rare thing in the school bus driving business, because part time employment fosters constant flux of workers coming and going. We are not going to settle for a wage that we cannot live on. The sooner the Company realizes this the better. - Heather Rogers
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