Silicon Valley shuttle drivers vote to unionize

Mike Snider | USA TODAY

In another advance for organized labor in Silicon Valley, the shuttle drivers who transport employees for companies such as Apple, eBay and Yahoo opted Friday to unionize.

By a vote of 104-38, the drivers who work for Compass Transportation — which has contracts with Amtrak, Apple, eBay, Genentech, Yahoo and Zynga — approved representation by Teamsters Local 853. Overall, there are nearly 160 drivers.

The next move will likely parallel what happened after shuttle drivers for Facebook voted to join the Teamsters in November. The union and Loop Transportation, the company that employs Facebook drivers, negotiated a contract that was approved Feb. 21 unanimously. The drivers are awaiting Loop and Facebook's next move.

Like the Facebook drivers, these other Silicon Valley drivers have voiced concerns about tough working conditions. For the Facebook drivers, the Teamsters negotiated: higher wages, on average, $24.50 an hour, up from $18 an hour; paid health and medical insurance for drivers and and their families; increased holidays and vacation time; seniority rights; protections for drivers in case the company is sold; and grievance and arbitration procedures.

"This is another step, in addition to the Facebook drivers, for the workers who support the tech industry to move forward toward decent wages, affordable health care and a pension for the future," Rome Aloise, international vice president and secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 853, said in a statement. "As we continue to be contacted by drivers for other companies, we call on Apple, eBay, Zynga, Genentech, Yahoo and Amtrak to encourage their contractor to agree to the same economics that the Facebook drivers will enjoy."

Despite heavy anti-labor sentiment in Silicon Valley, the Teamsters have been able to go on the offensive because of the growing economic divide between the highly paid tech workers and the service workers who work with, and within, big businesses for much lower wages.

"Today's vote by bus drivers of iconic technology companies is a new milestone for Silicon Valley. We congratulate the over 100 drivers who voted YES to unionize," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said in a statement. He has pressed for a recognition of, and a shift in, the inequality in Silicon Valley and an increase of diversity among employees in the tech industry.

"They are setting a new platform for working people in Silicon Valley where they can negotiate for better wages, health care and fair working conditions," he said. "Just as we address diversity and inclusion in the technology industry, we must also focus on the wage gap, income inequality and how we treat those that drive the buses, sweep the floors, secure the buildings and maintain the beautiful landscape. These workers are the heart and soul of Silicon Valley — they have dreams for their families and communities, and are standing up for the dignity and respect they so rightfully deserve."

The Teamsters organized the Facebook shuttle bus drivers, and subsequently, the drivers for the six companies who voted Friday, after extensive coverage from USA TODAY brought to light tough working conditions.

They have asked for better pay for working split shifts, one in the morning and another in the evening, in which they are not paid for the hours in between. Many drivers cannot go home between shifts and are forced to sleep in their cars in between shifts.

"There are drivers who've been here 20 years and have never seen a future, and now we have a future with the Teamsters," Tracy Kelley, one of the drivers for Compass, said in a statement released by the Teamsters. "We need wages commensurate with what it costs to live in this area, but it's not just about wages. It's about having better working conditions. We need changes and that's why I called the Teamsters."

Genentech spokeswoman Lisa Slater said, "We learned tonight that the majority of the Compass drivers voted for unionization in a federally supervised election. Genentech has a long history of excellent working relationships with both union and non-union contractors."

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