Tell RTC Washoe: Fire Keolis Corporation!

Regional Transportation Commission Board Members Bill Thomas, Bob Lucey, Neoma Jardon, Ed Lawson, Vaughn Hartung, and Oscar Delgado

While other transit companies are trying to recruit and retain qualified bus drivers to keep critical transit systems running during the pandemic, Keolis is understaffing transit operations, violating federal labor laws, treating hard-to-find CDL drivers like disposable workers, and violating labor standards set by the International Labor Organization.

Last week, Teamsters Local 533, in partnership with the International Union and the Amalgamated Transit Union, delivered letters to the offices of Keolis Transportation to inform the company that the unions will be engaging in protected concerted activity geared towards bringing attention to the multinational corporation’s atrocious treatment of its workers.

As part of the coordinated campaign to hold the contractor accountable, a new website has been launched, http://french4failure.com. The website showcases the various ways Keolis’ treatment of its workforce has led to service disruptions, violations of federal law and other issues. Most recently, Keolis’ failure to negotiate in good faith with Local 533 has led to bus service disruptions throughout Reno, Nevada and the surrounding communities.

“Washoe County residents, many of which are elderly or disabled people who are completely dependent on public transit as their only means of transportation, have had to go for weeks without service because of this company’s behavior,” said Gary Watson, Local 533 President. “As if that wasn’t bad enough, local officials are now calling for an investigation of a corruption scandal involving the company’s misuse of funds. This is unacceptable and our communities deserve so much better.”

We need your help. Please sign the petition and tell RTC Washoe to fire Keolis!

To: Regional Transportation Commission Board Members Bill Thomas, Bob Lucey, Neoma Jardon, Ed Lawson, Vaughn Hartung, and Oscar Delgado
From: [Your Name]

While other transit companies are trying to recruit and retain qualified bus drivers to keep critical transit systems running during the pandemic, Keolis is understaffing transit operations, violating federal labor laws, treating hard-to-find CDL drivers like disposable workers, and violating labor standards set by the International Labor Organization.

Our region's bus drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, and supervisors deserve respect in the workplace, and we need you of the RTC Board to ensure that they are treated fairly moving forward. Less than a year ago, our bus drivers and their support staff were hailed for their heroic service to our community and called essential, but now they’re being treated like they’re disposable.

The Keolis Corporation’s disregard for the well-being of our regional transit operators and support staff may not be readily apparent to you but rest assured that it continues unabated. From their refusal to accept arbitration awards, intentionally late opening of contract negotiations to the latest demand for the third party involved bargaining; this corporation has continuously limited the engagement process. Keolis has ulterior motives.

By purposely stonewalling, Keolis has caused many transit workers to seek secure employment elsewhere. The result not only has overburdened and demoralized the remaining employees but also discouraged new workers. Workers talk. A well-cared-for workforce is essential.

Our region’s public transit system is the lifeblood for many of our community and it must operate in the public’s best interest, not a French corporation’s. Keolis is failing the passengers in our community who depend upon our region’s public transit system. The obvious route forward is to end your contract with Keolis in order to attract, protect and respect community transit workers and to deliver a reliable transit system for our passengers.