Teamsters Local 853 Organizes Facebook Shuttle Drivers

December 17, 2014 by Dalisai Nisperos

Shuttle bus drivers employed in the Silicon Valley / San Francisco Bay Area to transport Facebook employees have voted overwhelmingly to join the ranks of Teamsters Local 853 to improve their wages and working conditions.

The drivers work for Loop Transportation, the company hired by Facebook to shuttle its employees between Facebook’s Menlo Park campus, San Francisco, and other cities in the Bay Area.  Drivers are paid $17 – $25 per hour, which makes it difficult for them to live near work where the cost of living is on the rise.  Drivers are required to work a grueling split shift schedule with a 6 hour unpaid break.  Some leave for work before sunrise and return well after sunset.  Some sleep in their cars during the break because they live too far from work to return home.

Local 853’s NLRB election victory came after Loop Transportation refused to recognize the Union, even though a majority of the Facebook drivers had signed cards to show their support for Local 853 representation.

Facebook and other multi-billion dollar Silicon Valley corporations regularly contract with service providers who offer the lowest cost contract – a practice that encourages employers to pay the lowest wages possible.  By choosing Union representation, the Facebook shuttle drivers have shown they are ready to fight to get better treatment and pay.  Their efforts may well lay the groundwork for others to follow suit.

Beeson, Tayer & Bodine, an Oakland and Sacramento based labor and employment law firm, counseled the Union throughout the National Labor Relations Board election process and remains committed to supporting Facebook shuttle drivers throughout the negotiation of its first contract and beyond.  You can continue to follow developments via Twitter at #shuttledrivers.

The material on this website is provided by Beeson, Tayer & Bodine for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented. Some of the articles are updated periodically, and are marked with the date of the last update. Again, readers should consult with their own legal counsel for the most current information and to obtain professional advice before acting on any of the information presented.