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The Georgia AFL-CIO Executive Board unanimously endorsed Congressman John Barrow for reelection in Georgia's 12 Congressional District. Congressman Barrow is a true friend of the working families of Georgia said Richard Ray President of the Georgia AFL-CIO. Charlie Key Secretary Treasurer of the Federation said, :Working families should recall the reasons they elected John and remember those are the reasons we should reelect him. Whether you wear boots or Birkenstocks John Barrow has been good for you."

First Transit Drivers at Emory University in Atlanta Vote 100% for Teamsters

1^st Victory in market-wide organizing campaign for Metro-Atlanta Bus Drivers

On Friday, February 8^th First Transit bus operators at Emory University voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 728 in the first of three NLRB elections scheduled for this month. The election covered First Transit’s largest account in the Atlanta area. At 7pm the votes were counted with 64 yes votes and 0 no votes.

With this decisive win, Local 728 is moving ahead to the elections for First Transit’s 9 other work locations in Atlanta including Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Kennesaw State, the Atlanta University Center, FedEx airport facility, Coke, Georgia Power, and other smaller accounts- with a total of over 200 workers. Ballots for these two mail-ballot elections will be counted on February 22^nd.

“As a single mother, my family is the most important thing to me. That’s why I worked so hard to win this election and why now we’re fighting for our first Teamster contract. My co-workers and I are ready for change!”

The campaign has involved an active organizing committee composed of workers at each of the major work sites, utilized four member organizers from freight and UPS, and gathered support of various student and community organizations. The International union also supported the organizing drive as part of the national organizing campaign targeting First Group- the parent company of First Student and First Transit. The International’s help was vital in ensuring a decisive victory.

“The workers at First Group are joining the Teamsters because they want some very basic things: respect, dignity and a voice on the job. Our union is committed to strategic organizing campaigns and victories like this show how that commitment can pay off.”

In an overwhelming vote of 314 for and 20 against, Chatham County school bus drivers employed by First Student Inc. voted to join Local 728 yesterday. Working conditions, wages and healthcare are the major concerns of the workers that drive school children to and from school in the Savannah area. Over 300 have already signed membership applications to join Local 728. The successful organizing campaign was carried out in an organizing partnership between Local 728 and the International union's organizing department. The victory at First Student in Savannah is the latest in a string of victories in a national campaign to organize school bus drivers that work for the British based company.

We don't see much about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the news but much of the area is still devastated and in need of help. The victims of Katrina have now become the victims of apathy and neglect. Please remember them when you make charitable contributions.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts you may send contributions to:

Union Community Fund Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 27306, Washington, D.C. 20038-7306.

Contributions to the fund, a 501(c)3 public charity, are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

For further information, or to volunteer or to report on union movement relief efforts, including the special relief funds set up by individual unions, or to include what your union is doing in our news briefs go to www.aflcio.org/hurricane.