Teamsters Local 570 Members Achieve Goals and Win Gains; Labor Dispute Avoided
PURCELLVILLE, Va., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Loudoun County Transit drivers have ratified a four-year contract, ending a lengthy negotiation process without disruption in service for D.C. commuters.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)
The drivers, represented by Teamsters Local 570 in Baltimore, provide daily commuter service to and from Washington, D.C. for hundreds of Virginia residents. Negotiations with Veolia Transportation, a French multinational corporation that operates Loudoun County Transit, have been ongoing since November 2009. The contract was ratified on Wednesday, March 2.
"This fight was about fairness all along, and finally Veolia agreed to give these drivers close to what they deserve," said Sean Cedenio, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 570. "It came down to the wire, but we stuck together and made good progress."
Under the new contract, workers retain their wage scale and have added pay increases. The company also agreed to increase its contributions to employee health care costs. Original company proposals would have stripped workers of benefits and dismantled their wage scale, resulting in a loss of pay for a majority of drivers.
"Veolia tried to break our union, but without us Veolia couldn't provide the service so many people rely on everyday," said driver Jennifer Carter. "In the end, we forced the company to do the right thing."
The public also played a vital role by calling and emailing Veolia's management and Loudoun County officials expressing their concerns.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Share this article