The United Steelworkers union and Blue Bird Corp. have reached an agreement on a three-year contract for workers at the company’s assembly plants and warehouse in Fort Valley, Georgia. This comes a year after the workers voted to unionize. The contract includes a minimum 12% raise for all 1,500 covered workers, with some of the lowest-paid workers getting raises of more than 40%. The company has also committed to contributing to a retirement plan for workers, sharing profits, and improving health and safety measures. These negotiations were closely watched by the Biden administration, as Blue Bird received $40 million in federal aid to build electric school buses.
President Joe Biden congratulated the United Steelworkers and Blue Bird for creating good-paying union jobs in the clean energy sector. Blue Bird is one of the three major school bus manufacturers in the United States. CEO Phil Horlock, who had initially urged employees to reject unionization, expressed optimism about the collaborative nature of the contract talks and the potential for a strong partnership with the union. The company believes that higher pay, benefits, and opportunities for career development will help attract workers and solidify its position as an employer of choice in the region.
The union victory at Blue Bird represents a significant win for organized labor in the traditionally anti-union Deep South. United Steelworkers District 9 Director Dan Flippo emphasized the importance of federal investments coming with a seat at the table for workers. Despite the declining trend of union membership nationwide, the agreement between Blue Bird and the United Steelworkers demonstrates the potential for unions to advocate for better wages and working conditions. Georgia has a particularly low unionization rate, with only 4.4% of workers being union members, and the state’s business leaders have historically been hostile towards unions.
The overall decline in union membership, especially in the private sector, is a concerning trend, with only 6% of private sector workers paying union dues. The union victory at Blue Bird highlights the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and fair compensation. The success of the United Steelworkers in securing a favorable contract for Blue Bird employees sets a positive example for other workers in the South and across the country. The agreement not only improves the working conditions and benefits for Blue Bird employees but also showcases the potential for unions to play a crucial role in advocating for workers’ rights and fair treatment in the workplace.
