School Bus Factory Workers in Georgia Vote for Union

​Workers at a Blue Bird factory in Fort Valley, Ga., that manufactures electric school buses recently voted to unionize, a victory that unions are calling a step forward for labor in the South. President Joe Biden congratulated the workers May 14. Following the vote, the company's CEO stepped down.

"Where is it written that America can't lead the world again in manufacturing?" Biden said in a statement. "The workers at Blue Bird, and at companies just like it all over the country, are proving the future can and will be built in America. And union workers will be a big part of that future."

We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.

Company Received $40M from EPA

The United Steelworkers (USW) questioned the company's use of federal money as the union organized. The USW filed unfair labor practice charges against Blue Bird, citing $40 million in rebates the company had received from the Environmental Protection Agency, which came with the stipulation that the funds could not be used for anti-union activity.

"Although we respect and support the right for employees to choose, we do not believe that Blue Bird is better served by injecting a labor union into our relationship with employees," said Julianne Barclay, a company spokeswoman, prior to the election. "During the pending election campaign, we have voiced our opinion to our employees that a union is not in the best interest of the company or our employees."

(The New York Times)

Changing of the Guard at Blue Bird

Matthew Stevenson, Blue Bird's CEO, left the company following the union vote. Blue Bird said Stevenson was leaving for personal reasons. He was replaced by Phil Horlock, who had been CEO until retiring in 2021.

(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Workers' Issues

In the Blue Bird election, 697 workers voted for the union and 435 voted against it. Workers have had complaints about health, safety and pay.

(13 WMAZ)

Union Victory's Location in the South Seen as Significant

"For too long, corporations cynically viewed the South as a place where they could suppress wages and working conditions because they believed they could keep workers from unionizing," said USW District 9 Director Dan Flippo, who represents workers in Georgia and six other Southern states. District 9 is headquartered in Gardendale, Ala. 

"Our union has a long history of fighting on behalf of workers in the South and across the country," Flippo continued. "Now as members of the USW, workers at Blue Bird have the same opportunity to make positive changes in their workplace."

(41 NBC WMGT)

Some Starbucks Workers Seek Decertification of Union

The unionization effort at the Blue Bird factory, which employs more than 2,400 people, is one of the most high-profile wins for organized labor since organizing efforts took off at Starbucks last year. The coffee chain has far fewer employees at each location than the factory, but approximately 300 U.S. cafes have been unionized. Starbucks workers had the momentum to unionize early last year, but some of the company's workers in New York state recently filed petitions to disband their union at one store in Buffalo and another in Rochester.

(SHRM Online)