Workers Rally to Support Lewiston/Auburn Citylink Drivers; Company Moves on Wages

PHOTO: ATU 714 members & union supporters rally on July 26 in Auburn.

When word got out that Lewiston/Auburn CityLink drivers (ATU 714) were struggling to negotiate a fair contract with an anti-union employer, workers from across western, central and coastal Maine responded to the call for solidarity. Last Friday, members of the Western Maine Labor Council, MSEA SEIU 1989, APWU 458, IBEW 567, Boilermakers 29 and USW 900 along with numerous members of IAM Local S6 with a grill in tow showed up at Western Maine Transportation Services (WMTS) headquarters in Auburn to demand a fair contract for their brothers and sisters.

As vehicle after vehicle honked in support of the workers on the street outside, inside the building management came back to the negotiation with a revised proposal to raise wages from $25.14/hr to $26.65/hr in year one, $27.65/hr in year two and $28.48/hr in year three. The offer, said management, was good “only if you have everyone leave our parking lot!”

The picketers outside applauded the news as they enjoyed a lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs from the Local S6 grill.

“Local S6 Machinists heard that rally cry, labor councils heard that rally cry, other unions heard that rally cry, and they came out to support us for the first ever contract of fixed route citylink drivers at Western Maine Transportation,” said ATU 714 President and Business Agent Joe Thomas. “The Company heard, and saw, what organized labor can do when we stick together. At the end of the day, we achieved our goal for good wages. I can’t thank everyone enough who supported us in this effort, especially Local S6 Machinists Union. Your solidarity, your strength, and kindness will never be forgotten.”

PHOTO: IAM Local S6 President Chris Williams shakes hands with ATU 714 President Joe Thomas.

He also thanked the Maine AFL-CIO, the Maine Labor Climate Council and the Western Maine Labor Council, the ATU 714 bargaining team and the drivers “who stayed together, who didn’t abandon the cause, all the while with targeted discipline on your back from management.” Thomas said he expects negotiations to wrap up during its next session in mid August.

“When I became President of ATU Local 714, one message that was made clear by our ATU International President to all local presidents was to ‘have good relationships with your labor councils and your State AFL-CIO. I never forgot that message,” said Thomas. “When you have that good relationship with your State AFL-CIOs, updating them on the important issues and affairs of your local, and a rally cry is ever needed, a message is sent out to other unions and councils who will stand with you in solidarity.”