Tech-Company Shuttle Drivers Voting Today Whether To Unionize

Drivers for Compass Transportation, a shuttle-bus company providing commuter services for Google, Apple, Microsoft, Genentech, Stanford University and other Bay Area clients, are voting on whether or not to unionize today.

Rome Aloise, international vice-president of the Teamsters Union, said that drivers stand to significantly improve their healthcare benefits and working conditions by joining the union.

Drivers would see their wages increase by anywhere from $5 to $9.50 per hour, and drivers who are currently working split shifts with no additional compensation would be able to opt out, working a single shift instead, according to Aloise.

“Or, if they choose to work split shifts they’ll have a significant pay premium to do so,” Aloise said. “Plus if those split shifts cause them to work over eight hours they’ll be paid time-and-a-half.”

Aloise added that the Compass Transportation’s clients are some of the richest companies in the world, and they can afford to pay their contractors a living wage.

“It’s chump change to them,” Aloise said.

Compass Transportation identifies itself as the “leading provider of corporate-sponsored employee commuter shuttle services” in the Bay Area, serving several Fortune 500 companies, according to the company’s website.

Genentech, a local biotech firm that contracts with Compass Transportation for commuting services, said this matter is between Compass and their employees.

“Genentech has a long history of excellent working relationships with both union and non-union contractors,” spokeswoman Lisa Slater said in an email. “We will fully respect whatever decision is made by the drivers.”

Compass Transportation’s drivers are voting today until 4 p.m., and the union expects to have results available this evening sometime after 6 p.m., according to the Teamsters Union.

Compass Transportation did not respond to requests for comment.

--Bay City News

--File photo via Morguefile

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