Union Bus Drivers Replaced at Georgia Tech

By Dana Goldman

Atlanta, GA – When school starts back in January at Georgia Tech, students and faculty may notice some new faces driving the campus shuttle busses. Because of a new contract, about 40 unionized bus drivers have been replaced with nonunionized drivers. That has some people upset. Dana Goldman reports.

Every year or two, Georgia Tech hires a new contractor to oversee its 40 or so campus bus drivers. Those drivers usually keep their jobs under the new management. But when Groome Transportation got awarded the contract, which starts in January, CEO Vince Groome decided on an open application process.

"The interview process - we had over 200 apps - the people who applied late - well, had so many applications, they didn't get interviewed."

Current drivers applied late because they weren't told hiring had started. Now Teamster organizer Ben Spaight is calling Groome's move a "wholesale dismissal" meant to bust the driver's union:

"These people had seen many previous contractors come and go from the GA Tech's campus. What's unethical is that Groome's not hiring these drivers who've shown such dedicated commitment to the campus and student body."

Groome has never had a union among its drivers but Vince Groome denies the charge of union busting.

Efforts to paint your company as anti-union are untrue. Yes. We didn't have that goal.

Regardless, students and union workers are planning a rally for the first day of classes--hoping to get Georgia Tech to intercede. But after four years at Georgia Tech driver Douglas Porter isn't holding his breath.

"I just applied for a census taker and if I don't get that I'll just go apply someplace else."

Georgia Tech didn't return calls asking for comment.

For WABE news I'm Dana Goldman.