For many, it has been difficult and will remain difficult, but hold the line.
Stick together.
Easier said then done, especially when outside influences benefit—profit—by turning one side against the working class side. But do what you can to keep together.
Bus drivers in Chula Vista are on strike. It’s been close to three weeks since they’ve stopped driving and buses have nearly stopped through the city, causing lengthy delays in getting from A to B and back to A.
The buses belong to Metropolitan Transit System but the drivers work for TransDev, a private contractor that provides drivers to public agencies throughout North America and the rest of the world.
In this case the striking drivers are represented by Teamsters Local 683. They are not asking for increased wages—though if they were who could blame them given the rising cost of living?
Before going further a refresher is needed.
You remember the pandemic, don’t you? It was in 2020 when the state of California deemed bus drivers were essential workers: a necessary part of keeping our communities running while a new virus threatened everyone’s health and safety.
In some corners, they were hailed as heroes for putting their health on the line as they ferried other essential workers—a vast number from South County—to and from work.
Among the reasons these essential workers are striking is the occasions in which they are scheduled for long work days via split shifts, yet paid only for a minimum number of hours. Meanwhile TransDev reports healthy and sustained growth in operations and finance.
The strike is affecting not just the drivers, who still have bills to pay. It’s making life harder for the other essential workers who keep our economy running and communities strong but rely on buses to get to work at all hours of the day. These two factions, and they communities they serve, need to stick together.
TransDev recently said it made its final offer to the union, which in turn rejected it because it was an inadequate proposal.
Elected officials and the public must pressure TransDev to keep negotiating in good faith with the people who kept us going through some of the darkest days of recent history.
