Foley, who works at First Student in Nashua, New Hampshire, organized with her co-workers in 2008. Foley, 40, is among a younger generation of Teamsters who are following in the path created by previous generations of Teamsters. And Foley is learning more about the union with each passing day, helping make life better for others.

 

“I’m there every day, answering phone calls. My co-workers come to me with any issues or concerns they may have,” said Foley, a member of Local 633 in Manchester.

 

Foley’s First Student yard is a diverse mixture of workers, not unlike other Teamster school bus locations around the country.

 

“We have monitors in their early 20s, all the way up to an 80-year-old monitor. We have a lot of retired commercial airline pilots, military guys and retirees. We also have single moms of all ages. We have a really great mix,” said Foley, who made the initial call to the Teamsters to organize her workplace, citing low wages, unaffordable health insurance and mistreatment as the reasons for organizing.

 

Foley said the improvements to her working conditions since joining the Teamsters have been significant and she believes the key to creating change in the workplace is by being vocal.

 

“If you’re not out there voicing your opinion and standing up for what’s right, it’s not going to get done,” Foley said.

 

Foley believes there can never be enough education on the union and what it can do for workers. She also believes that it’s reassuring, especially for school bus workers, to hear from fellow bus workers about the benefits of the union.

 

“If they hear it from someone just like them, they can comprehend and understand what a grievance is, what a union does, what dues are for,” Foley said. “I know my being a Teamster has been extremely beneficial in providing my family with a good standard of living.”