Vol. 78/No. 28      August 4, 2014

“Alex Roman we say no, union busting has got to go,” chanted protesters. Alex Roman is the general manager of the Boston Division of Veolia Transportation, which Boston Public Schools contracts to transport 33,000 students. The union’s agreement with Veolia, covering 700 members of USW Local 8751, expired June 30.

On the last day of the contract, some 200 members and supporters of Local 8751 held a rally at the Dorchester school bus yard where Veolia has its main office. Afterward members of the local entered the drivers’ room in the company’s building to hear a report from union officers on contract negotiations. The drivers’ contract stipulates that they have “access to the property” for “union activity.”

Prosecutors charge that Kirschbaum forced open the drivers’ room door, which Manager Angela Griffin attempted to bar shut with a table in the room. Prosecutors say the opening of the door pushed the table into Griffin, who claims she feared for her life.

Kirschbaum is charged with battery with a dangerous weapon (a table), trespassing, breaking and entering to commit a felony and malicious destruction of property.

“The charges are frivolous,” defense lawyer Barry Wilson told the court. “This is nothing more than a labor dispute.”

“If the office was closed, it was trespassing,” the judge said.

Kirschbaum pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge ordered a pretrial hearing for Sept. 15 and released Kirschbaum on his own recognizance.

“We gained entry to the room with no problem. The police were in the room,” driver Chyler Eliassaint told the Militant. “The lady was 12 feet away from the table.”

“When I went in, there was no table overturned,” said Georgia Scott, a 15-year driver, who said she entered the room shortly after the union meeting began. “It was peaceful, with people sitting in their seats. These charges are an insult to the union and the community.”

“Veolia should know they can’t bust this union — never in their lives. Our brother is not a criminal, Veolia is,” Andre Francois, the local’s recording secretary, told rally participants. “They wanted something to hold over the union during negotiations,” Francois told the Militant, pointing out that the charges were served four days after the alleged incident.

Vice President Steve Gillis told the rally company officials are pressing to eliminate long-term disability and sick days. About 60 percent of the drivers don’t work during the summer. Looking ahead to the coming school year, Gillis said the union’s stance will be: “No contract, no work.”

Last October Kirschbaum, Francois, Gillis and former local President Garry Murchison were fired for supposedly instigating an “illegal strike.” The company’s charge refers to events on Oct. 8, 2013, when drivers tried to get top Veolia officials, who were visiting the bus yard, to discuss some 300 union grievances over pay shortages and other contract violations. After missing their morning departures, the drivers were escorted off company property by Boston Police officers and the company locked the gate. The union is challenging the firings.

Sarah Ullman contributed to this article.
 
 
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