Super Shuttle Supporters Stage "Drive Thru Rally" at National Airport
Monday, May 12, 2014
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Dozens of
supporters of Super Shuttle drivers at National
Airport staged a “drive thru” rally Monday
at National Airport after Veolia
Transportation – the driver’s
parent company – threatened them if they went
ahead with plans to stage their own
demonstration at the airport. “We’re with
you,” declared both NOVA president Dan Duncan
and Metro
Washington Council president Jos
Williams, who joined the drivers and UFCW 1994
president Gino Renne and staff at a pre-demo
rally in a nearby parking lot. The drivers and
their supporters rallied to bring attention to
Veolia's system of what they characterized as
"indentured servitude," in which Veolia charges
its drivers $35,000 for a "franchise" and then
charges them weekly fees for equipment,
services and other items even when the driver
isn't working. Drivers who often work as much
as 18 hours a day can still end their workweek
with a negative paycheck. “In claiming these
drivers are franchisees, Veolia avoids paying
disability insurance, taxes and social security
on these workers,” says UFCW 1994. “The
company is attempting to intimidate workers
with threats of firing for standing up for
their rights.” The drivers are attempting to
gain union representation with UFCW Local 1994.
- report/photos by Chris
Garlock