Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Working people at Blue Bird Corp.’s Fort Valley, Ga., facility voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW), so they can address urgent concerns, including workplace health and safety, work-life balance, and fair pay. Some 1,400 workers will be represented by the USW. Blue Bird workers make school buses, including low-emission and zero-emission models.
“We work hard, and we deserve fair pay, safe working conditions and to be treated with respect on the job,” said Patrick Watkins, a Blue Bird worker who served on the volunteer organizing committee. “It was clear that our only path forward was to take our future into our own hands—and that’s what we did today when we voted to organize.”