FirstGroup expansion into Europe prompts alliance

2 February 2007. For immediate release

FirstGroup expansion into Europe prompts alliance

Trade unions from European countries where passenger carrier FirstGroup is planning to expand have announced plans to send a fact finding mission to the USA to investigate the company’s service record and whether it is living up to its pledge to remain neutral during union membership drives.

“This alliance is another example of the growing momentum across the globe for holding multinational corporations accountable,” said Mac Urata Secretary of the Inland Transport Section of the ITF, which brought the unions together for the two day London meeting. “No one wants to see FirstGroup repeat its poor US and UK service and labour records.”

At a two day gathering sponsored by the ITF in London representatives of UK and US unions were joined by delegates from The Netherlands, Germany, and Ireland – areas in which the company has acquired companies or expressed intentions to expand. The British and American delegates passed on examples of FirstGroup’s poor service quality after being awarded local government and school contracts for bus service. Delegates learned that just in the past week schools in Ohio were shut down for a day because FirstGroup’s school bus subsidiary failed to screen out drivers with criminal records.

FirstGroup is among the potential bidders for a stake of the Dutch transportation network Connexxion. Briggita Paas, of Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten – who will be part of the delegation – commented: “I was dismayed by reports regarding the company’s record of poor service and labour discord in the UK and the lack of enforcement of a union neutrality policy in the US. I will certainly be sharing my concerns regarding this company with our members and other unions in Holland.”

Paul Hardy, of Irish union SIPTU, described FirstGroup’s resistance to efforts to organise Aircoach in 2006, and the union’s solidarity efforts, which convinced the company to adhere to neutrality.

“Employees of FirstGroup in Ireland forced the company to cease its anti-union campaign and honour a ballot of drivers on union recognition to go ahead in an atmosphere of genuine neutrality,” Hardy said. “We believe that FirstGroup in the US should show the same respect to American workers.”

FirstGroup members of the Transport and General Workers’ Union last year joined other shareholders to introduce a resolution at the company’s AGM that called on FirstGroup to adopt a human rights policy, including the right to organise. The company admitted to anti-union behaviour in the US and pledged to enforce a policy of neutrality.

The unions agreed to hold additional meetings at critical European union gatherings to share vital information regarding the company’s performance record. This will include the ITF’s Road Transport global meeting in June.

As the meeting closed participants agreed to formalise their alliance, which will proceed under the title of the FirstGroup Union Solidarity Network.

ENDS

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