Drivers Detail Exploitation at Metro Council Meeting

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“Supporting struggles like these are why we’re in the labor movement,” declared an emotional Gino Renne at Monday’s Metro Washington Council delegate’s meeting. The president of MCGEO/UFCW 1994 (left) explained that his own family, which emigrated from Italy in the 1950’s, experienced the same kind of exploitation as that now faced by Super Shuttle drivers who have emigrated to the United States, almost all from Africa. Super Shuttle drivers Patrick Benhene and Claire Evans (right) described in painstaking detail the myriad ways that Veolia – the multinational that owns Super Shuttle – collects billions in profits while their drivers desperately try to make ends meet. Montgomery County taxi drivers also reported about their organizing efforts, and both AFL-CIO organizer Mateos Chekol and ATU 689 president Jackie Jeter noted that dealing with Veolia is a common link in many of these struggles. Said Montgomery County taxi driver Peter Ibik, “Any way you turn, their hands are in our pockets.” Look for more meeting reports – and draft minutes – later this week. photo by Chris Garlock