(SAN LEANDRO, Calif.) –– Shuttle drivers for seven major Silicon Valley companies voted by an overwhelming 95 percent today to approve a first contract that provides for industry-leading wages and benefits. The nearly 200 drivers, who are members of Teamsters Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif., work for Compass Transportation, contractor to Apple, eBay, PayPal, Yahoo, Evernote, Genentech and Amtrak.

“This is another big step in bringing middle class wages and benefits to this industry,” said Rome Aloise, International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 7. “Under this contract, drivers will be paid between $24 and $31.50 an hour, with affordable benefits and a defined contribution pension. This is an industry where less than a year ago, the drivers were making between $17 and $19 an hour with very little benefits, no paid holidays, no paid overtime or sick leave. It’s a life-changing contract.”

Under the agreement, drivers will receive 10 paid holidays and 9 days of sick leave. The drivers will also soon celebrate their first paid Thanksgiving holiday.

Shuttle drivers with Compass voted overwhelmingly in February to join Teamsters Local 853, after a successful vote for representation by Facebook drivers with Loop Transportation in November.

The Teamsters Union is part of a growing movement of labor, faith and community-based organizations and workers challenging income inequality in Silicon Valley through an innovative partnership called Silicon Valley Rising. For more information, visit: http://siliconvalleyrising.org/.

For more information on tech worker organizing with the Teamsters, visit: https://teamster.org/tech-drivers-deserve-union.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.