The British are coming!
The British are coming! The British are coming! And it appears they are here to stay.

Britain's National Express, PLC, recently acquired Durham Transportation of Austin, Texas. Within the last year National Express acquired three other United States transit contractors: Crabtree-Harmon in Missouri, Bauman Bus in Pennsylvania, and Robinson Bus Service in Illinois. With the purchase of Durham, National Express added approximately 3,500 school buses to its fleet and now has about 5,600 buses in 14 states. It is now the third-largest school bus operator in the U.S.

Britain's First Group, PLC, recently purchased Ryder Public Transportation, which includes Ryder/ATE, the public transit contracting and management service. Ryder Student Transportation Service operates approximately 10,000 school buses. First Group also owns Bruce Transportation in New Jersey, and soon will become the nation's second-largest school bus operator, with Laidlaw of Burlington, Ontario, being the largest.

We can expect these multinational companies to continue the acquisition of other companies within the U.S. Of course, the British companies are not just purchasing school bus companies. Remember, Stagecoach, PLC, recently purchased Coach USA.

It is imperative that the UTU meet with and communicate with our union allies from Britain and other countries who are already dealing with these companies to gain insight into their operations, financial background, and their dealings in contract negotiations and on a daily basis. President Little was judicious when he affiliated with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Through the ITF and its affiliates we can learn about and provide input regarding these multinational companies. No longer can the UTU think only U.S. and Canada. We must continue to reach out globally and truly become an international union, or we shall be left behind.

McNelis attends ITF meeting
MEXICO CITY -- Vice President Bernie McNelis, director of the UTU's Bus Department, recently attended the International Transport Federation's (ITF) Inter-American Road Transport Workers' meeting here to show the UTU's support of the organization.

The UTU is affiliated with the ITF.

In addition to UTU representatives, those from many Latin American countries were in attendance, as well as union representatives from the Transport Workers Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Jointly chairing the meeting, from the office of the ITF in London, England, were Assistant General Secretary Graham Brothers, Assistant Secretary-Inland Transport Mac Urata, ITF Regional Secretary Maurica Sant'Anna, UTA Secretary General Juan Manuel Palacios, ATM President Benito Bahena Lome, and ITF Executive Board Member Omar Jose Gomez of Brazil. Assistant to Regional Secretary Filomena Garcia was in attendance and was very instrumental in seeing that the meeting turned out to be a success.

"This meeting was the gathering of union representatives from the Road Transport Workers of the Inter-Americas who represent member/workers from the bus, van, taxi and trucking industries," McNelis said. "There was some discussion regarding the concerns of rail union members, but the meeting was mainly for those members who work on the roads."

The agenda consisted of reports from the secretary, national reports, drivers hours/fatigue, Day of Action, issues facing the unions throughout the Americas, cross-border trade agreements (i.e.,NAFTA), multinational companies, mobilizing solidarity and women's activities, education and urban transport issues, McNelis said.

"The issue of vans, unregulated, non-union and illegally operating as individual taxis, or vans transporting passengers in front of unionized, regularly scheduled bus services at a cheaper price, was discussed," McNelis said. "This is a major concern throughout the Americas as it is causing unemployment. The vehicles are unsafe, drivers untrained, they usually do not have proper licenses, and do not carry liability insurance for the passengers.

"Hours of service for bus and truck drivers were discussed at great length and many of the participants stated how drivers in their countries are working excessive hours. In many countries, hours of service regulations are insufficient, causing fatigue and health problems, as well as social problems for the drivers and their families," McNelis said.

There are more than 600,000 women who are members of the ITF. "Filomena Garcia and Maria da Conceicao Gomez spoke about women's issues and the increase in the number of women in the ITF and in leadership positions. Sisters Garcia and Gomez and other women in attendance spoke on the importance of solidarity between women and men," he said.

The group also discussed multinational companies, such as Stagecoach from London, England, which recently acquired Coach USA. "There is a meeting in London on October 13 and 14 to further discuss multinational companies, their impact on the transit industry and their dealings with the unions throughout the world," McNelis said.

McNelis spoke on the government's role in safety for the bus and truck industries regarding hours of service and "how (the UTU) is attempting to have the vans who haul our rail crews and the public regulated by the Federal Highway Administration or the appropriate agency. Those regulations should include commercial driver's licenses for the drivers, hours of service and other rules or regulations for equipment safety."

McNelis also spoke on the involvement of women within the UTU, and how women need to be more involved in their union and politics. On the second day, McNelis spoke on NAFTA and the importance of unions on both sides of the border working together.

"This was a very important meeting to discuss the common concerns of the unions and how we can unite together to tackle the many problems facing us all," McNelis said.

October 5, 1999, is the ITF Transport Workers Action Day to bring the concerns of fatigue and excessive driving hours to the attention of the public. "I urge all members to drive their vehicles with their headlights on during the action day," McNelis said.

B.J. McNelis (L-1594)
14600 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44107-4250
Voice (216) 228-9400
Home (440) 930-8689
Fax (216) 228-5755
E-Mail: C_McGint@utu.org