Members of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO who work at the Annapolis Bus Company and R. E. Wilson & Sons in Anne Arundel County, Md., ratified a strong, new contract on Sept. 25. These workers are employed as school bus drivers and aides and are responsible for transporting students for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
The three-year agreement, which was reached after months of negotiations and a strike authorization that fell the day before school was slated to begin, was ratified by an overwhelming majority of the members. R. E. Wilson & Sons members voted 100 percent in favor of ratification, while Annapolis Bus Company members voted 96 percent in favor. The contract includes wage increases, improved benefits that strengthen protections for workers and their families, and a path to adequate and affordable health care, which was one of the top issues during negotiations.
“The contract is a clear win for our members,” said Special Assistant to the President of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO Ray Lee. “These drivers and aides stood together, demanded respect, and won an agreement that reflects the value of their work transporting the county’s children safely to and from school every day. This fight was always about fairness and dignity. Our members made it clear that they weren’t going to settle for bare-minimum health care. Their unity and determination delivered this victory.”
“This agreement shows what happens when workers stand together,” said President of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO Gino Renne. “By authorizing a strike, our members sent a message that they were willing to fight for fairness. Because of that unity, they won real improvements in wages, benefits, and health care. This is a victory for our members, their families, and the students they serve.”