ATU Local 1208 today made the following statement:
It appears from recent press statements by FirstGroup plc/First Transit International that even as the company pretends to continue negotiations, the company is planning to lock out University of Alabama's Crimson Ride Drivers if we refuse to accept a contract containing poverty level wages.
FirstGroup plc/First Transit International continues to insist that poverty level wages for CDL-licensed drivers are appropriate to the Alabama market, and that Alabama workers should be pleased to accept them in light of the current unemployment rate.
The linked Living Wage Calculation for Tuscaloosa County, AL, prepared by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier and Pennsylvania State University, 2010, shows that the $9.00 an hour wage paid by First Transit to Alabama Crimson Ride shuttle drivers is below the poverty wage level. In fact, the living wage for a family of four (two adults and two children) in Tuscaloosa is $28.22 an hour.
The facts, however, tell a different story.
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham pays approximately the same hourly rate for campus shuttle service, yet Birmingham CDL-licensed drivers earn a starting pay of $12.59/hr and can reach $16.79/hour with seniority.
First Transit receives $55.00 an hour for providing transportation for the University of Alabama. For operating the service 2080 hours a year, First Transit receives $114,400.00 for each 2080 of service hours they provide, while First Transit currently pays their bus operators $18,720.00 for operating the buses 2080 hours a year.
- First Transit has been unable to retain employees at the current wages paid, suffering about 50% annual turnover of drivers.
The University of Alabama Crimson Ride drivers for their part do not understand how either University of Alabama students or unemployed American workers will benefit if they accept a contract containing poverty level wages and FirstGroup plc/First Transit International continues to export double-digit profits from Alabama to their corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom.
This is not good for Tuscaloosa! This is not good for Alabama! This is not good for our country!
First Transit and ATU Local 1208 have agreed to return to the bargaining table at 6pm on March 7, 2010 at the Comfort Inn Suites, Mc Farland and I-20, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Contacts:
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1208
Kenneth Kirk,
202-360-0326
ATU IVP