Local 251 Members Prepare to Strike Amid
Stalled Contract Negotiations
PROVIDENCE, R.I.,
Sept. 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After several months of
negotiations with Transdev for a first contract, members of
Teamsters Local 251 have voted to authorize a strike and are
prepared to act if necessary to secure a fair and equitable
agreement. These 51 workers provide bus and transportation services
for Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and
Rhode Island College (RIC) and are
integral to the Providence student
community.
"We see our vote to authorize a strike as a signal to Transdev
of our solidarity in the fight for fair compensation and safe
working conditions," said Robin Cox,
a shuttle bus driver at Transdev. "We love our jobs and the
students we service. We have no desire to strike, but we will
exercise our right to withhold our labor if necessary. We are
moving forward with the hope that Transdev will now, with this
vote, view us with the strength that we see in ourselves."
Teamsters are demanding that Transdev offer a strong first
contract that includes a fair wage, improved health care coverage,
and retirement benefits. These workers voted overwhelmingly to join
Local 251 in November 2023 in the
face of low wages, poor benefits, and concerns over job security
and have been working toward a first contract.
"Money talks—and we want fair pay," said Tarsa Lockley, a dispatcher and shuttle bus
driver at Transdev. "We can only overcome these challenges if we
stand together."
"Transdev Teamsters are determined to get the strongest possible
first contract—and they aren't afraid to strike to get it," said
Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of
Local 251 and Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation
Division. "Transdev needs to skip this song and dance of
undercutting their workers because we have made it clear to them
that the Teamsters across the nation won't stand for it. We look
forward to securing these workers their first Teamsters contract
and getting them what they deserve."
Negotiations will continue next week with a federal
mediator.
Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,300 workers in a wide
variety of industries throughout Rhode
Island and southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit
teamsterslocal251.org.
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202)
497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Local 251