Solidarity Works Seattle: Boston School Bus Drivers Discuss Victory Over Veolia

As part of their west coast tour, come hear four of the victorious Boston School Bus Drivers talk about their fighting strategies.

Guest video appearance by Monica Lewis Patrick on Veolia’s role in the Flint lead poisoning crisis.

Last year, after more than two years of hard-fought struggle, the militant, fighting rank and file of the Boston School Bus Drivers Union — ­United ­Steelworkers Local 8751 — won a historic victory against global giant Veolia/Transdev, one of the most notorious capitalist union busters, as well as ­Boston Public School bosses, Boston Mayor ­Marty Walsh and their media mouthpieces.

Four fired union leaders, out of work since October 2013 on bogus charges of leading a wildcat strike, went back to work on Dec. 23, 2015. In addition to rein­statement of the four with full senior­ity rights and a substantial monetary payment, the local won a contract with economic justice and the protection of 40 years of the collective bargaining process.

Solidarity is key to the Boston school bus drivers success. “Team Solidarity” has been building power among the working class through a 40+ year commitment to racial justice, disability justice, LGBT*Q rights, local struggle and anti-colonial/anti-imperialist struggle including solidarity with workers in Palestine.

These drivers are truly an inspiration and have so much knowledge and experience to share with us about solidarity and building power among the working class to push corporate power back.

Event is free and open to the public.

Lunch from Mawadda Cafe will be served (Halal, gluten-free and vegan options will be available). 

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In addition to the Seattle and Tacoma eventes, there will other actions featuring our friends from Boston:

Saturday, July 23, 1:00 – 4:00 PM: Livestream of events on Decolonize TV

Sunday, July 24, 1:00-3:00 PM: “Access Now: Rally in Solidarity with Disabled Transit Riders, Access Drivers, Boston School Bus Drivers and Flint, Michigan” (Metro Access Paratransit Office; 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle)

Co-sponsored by A. Phillip Randolph Institute & Stop Veolia Seattle with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 19; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 52; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Bayan PNW; Disability Liberation Front; Dyke Community Activists; Freedom Socialist Party; Got Green?; Organized Workers Labor Solidarity (OWLS); Rachel Corrie Foundation; Seattle Black Book Club; Social Justice Fund Northwest; Transit Riders Union; Washington Fair Trade Coalition; Workers World.