Solidarity with the Crimson Ride Shuttle Drivers

Solidarity With the Crimson Ride Shuttle Drivers

Crimson Ride shuttle drivers are currently employed by British multinational corporation FirstGroup PLC, an organization that has reportedly earned over $200 Million in profits in the past six months. Despite the prosperity of their employers, our Crimson Ride drivers only earn $9.50 per hour (which puts their earnings below the poverty line) and because they are not employed directly by the University of Alabama they are not earning any state-provided health benefits. Last year, Crimson Ride drivers voted unanimously to join Amalgamated Transit Union and joined ATU Local 1208.

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) supports the Crimson Ride Shuttle Drivers and ATU Local 1208. We are calling on all students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the UA and Tuscaloosa community and the larger community of anyone who supports labor rights and fair wages, to get involved with this campaign. Tell University of Alabama President Robert Witt that you support the Crimson Ride Drivers and ATU Local 1208. Ask him to tell FirstGroup that Crimson Ride Shuttle drivers deserve a living wage!

We, the undersigned, as members of the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa community, and as concerned citizens and friends of the UA and Tuscaloosa community, believe that the drivers of the Crimson Ride Shuttles deserve to earn a living wage for the services they provide to the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa. To that end we are supporting the Crimson Ride Shuttle Drivers and ATU Local 1208 as they seek to negotiate with FirstGroup PLC. We are asking Dr. Witt and the UA administration for their support and assurances that the Crimson Ride drivers will be treated with fairness and respect as they negotiate for fair wages.