Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at UC Berkeley is attempting to privatize the lab's bus service, eliminate union jobs and displace the 18 drivers. Some of these drivers have served the Lab community for over 20 years.

Stimulus Money For Job Growth or Job Loss

What is worse is that the Lab has admitted that there is no financial reason for this union busting move. They have received over 170 million dollars in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus money, specifically for the purpose of helping to create jobs. But the Lab is determined to devastate these workers and their families by eliminating union jobs despite having received the federal stimulus funds.

The Lab has the money to keep bus services in house. The drivers have suggested concrete alternative ideas to Lab management on ways to improve bus services, without privatization. Lab management needs to respect taxpayers by using their money to create jobs, not more job loss. Drivers need your help TODAY to tell Lab management:

Do not use stimulus money to throw our families under the bus!

Send a message TODAY to Lab Interim Director A. Paul Alivisatos telling him to not to sign any contract which would outsource the driver jobs and to adopt the alternatives proposed by the drivers!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a taxpayer whose taxes fund the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, I am outraged by your current efforts to displace the bus drivers at the Lab by contracting out their work.

The Lab has received over 170 million dollars in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus money to create jobs, not create further job loss. It is my understanding that Operations management at the Lab has even admitted that this move is not about money.

The Lab drivers have repeatedly demanded that the Lab stop any attempts at privatization and have even provided alternatives ways to improve bus services without outsourcing.

These are good union jobs that we need now more than ever. In the worst recession in decades, it makes no sense to eliminate well paying jobs which enable workers to feed their families and pay their bills.

I urge you to stop any attempts to contract out these jobs immediately. I also ask that you commit to the bus drivers, in writing, that you will never look to privatize their work and you will adopt the alternative improvements they have presented to you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 25, 2009