Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga, Genentech bus drivers vote to unionize

Chuck Miranda, a Compass Transportation shuttle bus driver for seven years, heads back to his bus after voting. Chuck Miranda, a Compass Transportation shuttle bus driver for seven years, heads back to his bus after voting. Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga, Genentech bus drivers vote to unionize 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

Bus drivers who herd employees to and from the offices of Apple, Yahoo, eBay, Zynga and Genentech voted to join the powerful Teamsters union Friday.

Shuttle drivers employed by Compass Transportation voted 104-38 in favor of representation, with 16 not casting ballots. They chose to organize at secret polling booths set up at several locations near driver rest areas in South San Francisco and San Jose.

The decision follows last fall’s vote to unionize by drivers contracted by Facebook. That push for representation was expected to ricochet to other service industries — such as transportation, security and food preparation — that work with Silicon Valley tech giants.

The union vote comes amid complaints that tech shuttle drivers are underpaid, overworked and unfairly compensated for time spent on the job.

“We need wages commensurate with what it costs to live in this area, but it’s not just about wages,” said Tracy Kelley, a Compass driver, in a statement. “It’s about having better working conditions.”

A lack of adequate rest areas is a major complaint of the drivers — as are unpaid breaks of up to six hours between split morning and evening legs of the commute.

Compass Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Company shuttle buses have become symbols of the Bay Area’s tech-boom-fueled wealth gap. That conflict is especially complicated for bus drivers, for which it is a source of their employment, but also of many grievances.

In 2004, Google became the first tech company to provide shuttle service for employees who live in San Francisco. The first buses made just two stops in the city and carried 155 passengers. Now more than a third of Google’s Mountain View employees catch a shuttle to work. According to the city of San Francisco, tech companies have obtained 500 permits for buses participating in a pilot program allowing shuttles to use Muni bus stops.

In December 2012, shuttle drivers issued the first formal complaints of what they characterized as a grueling job, filing a class-action lawsuit that alleged one of Google’s shuttle management contractors, WeDriveU, failed to pay drivers for time between split shifts, provide legally required rest breaks and compensate them for time spent performing required inspections on vehicles before and after shifts. A proposed settlement awarded 89 drivers a combined total of $125,000, amounting to $730 per driver after attorneys’ fees and other expenses.

Last week, Facebook drivers voted unanimously to approve their first union contract, promising high wages and improved working conditions. The Facebook drivers’ new contract includes an increase in the average pay for workers at Loop Transportation, from $18 an hour to $24.50 an hour, and addresses split shifts, specifically offering wage increases for employees who work them. The contract awaits approval from the social network and Loop.

Kristen V. Brown is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kbrown@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kristenvbrown