Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Bus and van operators at Fort Bend Transit in Rosenberg, Texas, overwhelmingly voted to join the Transport Workers Union (TWU) on Friday. They sent a strong message to the operator Transdev that a complete lack of respect for workers is unacceptable.
“Transdev forces drivers to work without proper bathroom breaks, disciplines and fires drivers through a draconian attendance policy and punishes workers who dare to bring concerns about their working conditions to management. That is unacceptable and it ends TODAY. Transdev’s anti-union rhetoric has epically failed,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “We will fight and win a first contract that improves the working conditions and lives for Fort Bend Transit workers and their families. They are fed up with a lack of respect from management. A contract forces the bosses to make changes instead of punishing workers who dare to speak up.”
In recent months, commuters in Rosenberg have been plagued by service disruptions because of Transdev’s mismanagement and treatment of workers. Buses frequently experience overcrowding and commuters are turned away, leaving bus operators at risk of assault and outrage from angry customers.