Labor dispute disrupts tech buses’ morning runs in S.F.
Members of the union that represents the folks behind the wheels of corporate shuttles stood and sat in front of those buses in the Castro district Thursday, briefly delaying them as part of a labor dispute.
About 40 Teamsters blocked tech buses in a surprise protest that started shortly after 7 a.m., when the group surrounded a bus at 18th and Castro streets, delaying its departure for nearly 10 minutes.
The Teamsters blocked buses operated by Hallcon, formerly Loop, and WeDriveU. Both companies haul workers to and from tech giants that include Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tesla and Salesforce, according to Doug Bloch, political director for Teamsters Joint Council 7.
The union hopes to pressure the
“The companies have made it clear that they don’t want to do the pension.” Stacy Murphy, vice president, Teamsters Local 853
companies into offering drivers a Teamsters pension plan. The parties are close to agreement on items aside from retirement plans, Bloch said.
Stacy Murphy, vice president of Teamsters Local 853, said the union and company are close to reaching a contract but that the issue of a pension remains a sticking point.
“We’re down to nuts and bolts,” she said, “and the companies have made it clear that they don’t want to do the pension.”
Murphy said the drivers, many of whom commute from the Central Valley and sleep in their cars between shifts, deserve a retirement plan.
WeDriveU Chief Operating Officer Tim Wayland said in a statement that the company pays its drivers “above market rates.” He said it is offering drivers a 401(k) plan with $29,000 in company contributions over the length of the fouryear contract and additional matching funds.
The Teamsters, many wearing union jackets, carried picket signs reading “Silicon Valley can afford to give its drivers a secure retirement.” They waited as buses from other operators stopped and tech workers timidly boarded.
Then the protesters pounced as a white WeDriveU bus pulled up, standing in front of the bus, letting passengers on but stopping the bus for several minutes.
Handing out leaflets and explaining the dispute, they chanted: “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!”
After a few minutes, each bus was allowed to leave and the protesters waited for the next. At one point, a line of five buses waited to pick up passengers at the intersection.
Drivers, meanwhile, were supportive.
“I love my job,” said Keshia Wilson of Hayward, a driver for five years. “But they should just do the right thing.”
In addition to inconveniencing commuters, the Teamsters hope to draw the attention, and support, of City Hall.
The city’s corporate shuttle program includes a “labor harmony” clause, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2015, that requires operators to avoid labor disputes and have plans to prevent them from disrupting service.
In 2016, at the behest of supervisors, the Municipal Transportation Agency revoked the permit of Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation, which was embroiled in a dispute with the Teamsters. It was later resolved, and Bauer’s permit restored.
Wayland said WeDriveU “will continue to bargain in good faith and in accordance with our Labor Harmony covenants.”
“I love my job. But they should just do the right thing.” Keshia Wilson, shuttle driver