ATU
and First Student met with Federal Mediators for the second day in an
attempt to settle the contract which has been expired since August 31,
2012. First Student continues to demand that all new hires will pay 100%
of their medical insurance. “The company’s insurance is a
high-deductible plan which translates to no health insurance for our
members.” Says Jonathan Hunt, Vice President of ATU 757. “Why, because
our drivers can not afford this health insurance.”
The
average first year driver takes home $930.00 per month. First Transit’s
health insurance averages $822.45 per month for single person coverage,
netting $70 per month for wages. Vice President Hunt says about First
Student’s approach to having drivers with no health insurance
transporting the community’s most precious cargo, our children, without
medical care, “It is immoral.”
As
First Student continues to send their profits overseas to their
stockholders in Scotland, instead of providing decent benefits and
pouring the money back into the community, Vice President Hunt of ATU
757 will take the employer’s last, best and final offer to the members
on Thursday, February 13th, 2014. With a recommendation of a
“no” vote, the strike could happen at any time. “We stand together with
the teachers of Portland Public Schools and demand better for our
children and our community.” Says Hunt.
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