Some Mobile City Bus Drivers Have Walked Off The Job
MOBILE, Ala.
By Dale Hines
BlueRAMMedia.com
March 12, 2025
Some Mobile bus drivers have walked away from their job, saying they have been disrespected and overlooked.
More than 30 WAVE Transit bus drivers walked off the job causing some routes to be shut down for the time being as buses are parked.
The management company is the blame, drivers say.
Richard Jackson and Antonie Maiben, are with the Mobile division of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents transit workers in the U.S. and Canada.
“We don’t think the things we are asking for is unreasonable,” said Jackson.
A lot of the drivers are unhappy and fed up with the conditions the representatives said.
The union members even showed up at Tuesday’s Mobile City Council meeting, upset at First Transit, the company that manages the WAVE Transit System.
Some of their complaints include harassment, poor maintenance of the bus fleet, mistreatment, and wages.
Mobile City Attorney Ricardo Woods said he understands the frustration of the drivers but wants to see buses back on routes.
WAVE Transit General Manager Preston Johnson addressed the drivers’ concerns at Tuesday’s council meeting including their fear of retaliation for speaking out.
But city leaders want the drivers to return to their routes and negotiate thereafter.
“The role of the city is to service our citizens,” said Woods. “Not necessarily the employees. The employee and employers’ relationship are between First Transit and its employees. Do we want to make sure everyone is treated fairly? Sure. Is that part of their contract, it is not.”
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