ATU Local 1700 recently negotiated contracts with Greyhound covering drivers for a new cut-rate bus line and service workers at garages across the country that had been contracted-out for years.

The first collective bargaining agreement brings drivers for Bolt Bus, a new service Greyhound is launching to compete with curbside companies across the Northeast, into Local 1700. The union has cooperated with Greyhound and Peter Pan Lines to force authorities to enforce existing federal, state and local regulations.

President Bruce Hamilton testified twice before Congress on how illegal curbside carriers offer unsafe operations to people on tight budgets. The House finally passed legislation to force federal agencies to enforce the law, but the bill now faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

“These ‘Wal-Marts on Wheels’ have been a disaster across the Northeast,” Hamilton said, “but we may not get the political support we need unless we can strengthen the Democratic majority in Congress this November.”

The curbside carriers brutally exploit the labor of immigrants, making it more difficult for legitimate, unionized companies like Greyhound to compete. Greyhound’s new attempt to regain lost business will mean more decent jobs for union members in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The second new contract covers workers at Greyhound maintenance facilities who clean buses, change light bulbs, service tires, and distribute parts. Most of these jobs were performed by Aramark and Unicco. By eliminating the subcontractors, Greyhound saves on management costs and the employees come back into the union fold.

At every Local 1700 meeting, members have raised the need for higher standards of cleanliness and mechanical readiness. The union has pressed the company to do better in these areas, and now there has been a positive response from the company.

The agreement covers garages in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Pleasantville (Atlantic City), Richmond, and Seattle. Most of these workers have never belonged to a union, although cleaners in New York City and tire technicians in Chicago already enjoyed the benefits of Local 1700 membership.

The Bolt Bus and maintenance agreements will supplement the current Greyhound drivers’ and mechanics’ contract. Both provide the same union recognition rights, seniority rights, grievance procedure, health & welfare provisions, 401-k plan with company match, and other provisions.

Work rules vary because of the different nature of the work, and wages are structured differently. Bolt Bus will pay drivers much more than any of the rogue curbsides.

The new agreements will be rolled into the drivers’ and mechanics’ contract when Local 1700 begins negotiations with Greyhound next year.