First Student Can Afford To Treat Us Right

The Facts on Our Employer

If you think that First Student is a small, struggling organization—think again.

Our employer, First Student, is a global company that is making billions, while we struggle to make ends meet for our families. As school bus drivers, attendants and mechanics, we are concerned with standards in the school bus industry and are working hard to make some needed changes.

We are seeking a living wage, affordable health insurance, respect on the job and safety on our buses. We wanted to share this information about First Student with you because it makes it clear that First Student can afford to do better for us and for the children we transport.

Global Reach

• First Student is a subsidiary of a major global company called FirstGroup.
• FirstGroup is a United Kingdom-based transport provider with operations in the United States, U.K .and Canada.
• In 2006, FirstGroup America’s gross revenue totalled $9.1 billion, more than seven times their 2005 revenue, with operating profits of $708 million.
• The company is led by Chief Executive Officer Moir Lockhead, whose salary, bonuses, benefits and stock options package totalled more than $4.1 million in 2007.His pension plan is currently valued at more than $8.3 million.

Here at Home

• In 2007 FirstGroup PLC announced their $3.4 billion takeover bid for Laidlaw International and the merger was approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.
• First Student is now the largest school bus carrier in the U.S. and Canada, operating over 62,000 buses in 39 states and three provinces.
• First Student holds contracts at approximately 1,500 school districts and transports almost four million students to school each day.

The answer is clear—First Student can afford to treat us right.

What we can’t afford is to sit by and not take action. We are working together so we can improve standards for all school bus workers. The Teamsters now represent nearly 30,000 members in the school bus industry, with more than 15,000 Teamsters at FirstGroup.

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