“What’s disgusting? Union busting! What’s outrageous? Sweatshop wages!” Chants rang out July 29 in front of the King County Metro headquarters in Seattle. Picketers had gathered to protest the loss of 140 union jobs driving Access vans for people with disabilities.
Metro Transit, which provides bus, light rail and other forms of public transit in King County, had three unionized subcontractors providing door-to-door Access van services. The Access drivers are members of Amalgamated Transit Union 587, which also represents Metro bus drivers.
In May, the contract with MV Transportation, one of Metro Transit’s subcontractors, was discontinued and given to Veolia Transportation, an international company and the largest U.S. private transportation provider.
Drivers for MV had earned up to $19.90 an hour; working for Veolia, drivers will make no more than $17.50 to $18 an hour. Starting wages are much lower. In addition, drivers who had previously been based in the North End of Seattle are now being shifted to the South End, forcing them to travel longer distances to get to work.
Metro management claims the switch to a non-union provider will save the county $1 million. However, the County budget is $4.9 billion and Metro Transit’s annual budget is $1.7 billion—$1 million is just a drop in the bucket. Meanwhile, Metro is planning another bus fare increase in the fall for adult riders.
Although they belong to the same union, union Access drivers earn significantly less than their bus driver sisters and brothers. According to the Access/Metro website, “Access drivers must have specialized training in handling passengers with disabilities and have current CPR certification.” It is not uncommon for passengers to experience medical emergencies while riding in the Access van. In addition, since they do not have a fixed route, Access drivers must be skilled at map reading.
The informational picket line on Tuesday morning was lively. An elderly Access rider, driven in an Access van, showed up to support the drivers and sat in her wheelchair holding an ATU 587 picket sign. Most of the picketers were members of ATU 587, primarily bus drivers, although Access drivers were a vocal presence.
Paul Neil, ATU 587 Financial Secretary was in attendance and joined in chants and singing of “Solidarity Forever.” At the end, Neil made a brief speech thanking everyone for coming out. He pledged that ATU would launch an organizing drive to unionize the drivers at Veolia. There will be another picket on Aug. 12.
Access drivers deserve union wages! People with disabilities deserve union drivers!
