Teamster Drivers and Monitors at STA Beat Back Union-Busting Campaign

COLUMBIA, Mo., Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters bus drivers and monitors at Student Transportation of America (STA) in Columbia, Missouri are celebrating after they defeated an attempted de-authorization at their yard backed by the National Right-to-Work Legal Defense Foundation.

"I'd like to thank all of the drivers and monitors at STA Columbia that voted to defeat this measure as well as everyone from the International Union that came to help out with this campaign," said Teamsters Local 833 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Bruemmer. "We stood strong, and because of that we're going to be in a better position when we go into negotiations in 2020."

The win comes after Proposition A, a similar measure that would have made Missouri a "right-to-work" state, was defeated by a landslide in a statewide election in August 2018. Right-to-work legislation makes every union workplace an "open shop," where workers can reap the benefits of union membership without paying dues. Studies show that states with right-to-work legislation on the books have workers with lower wages and benefits than those in states without the law.

In defeating the de-authorization attempt, bus workers at STA Columbia voted in favor of the Teamsters, ensuring that the union best represents every member. Scott Evanoff is a driver and shop steward who has been a Local 833 member for 19 years. He said that voting against the de-authorization was important for maintaining solidarity and a strong contract at STA Columbia.

"Our contract is strong, and we only have room to grow," Evanoff said. "People understood that this effort would have hindered progress during bargaining, but now we're in a better position to get a better contract than we already have."

Contact:
Mark Bruemmer, (573) 635-7133

SOURCE Teamsters Local 833