June 28 was a great day in Chicago. Local 1700 called together the Chicago labor movement to a noon rally outside the Greyhound terminal. We showed our ability to unite around issues that are important to all working people, not just Greyhound drivers and mechanics.

The issue of the day was Greyhound's test driver uniform in their "elevate everything" program. Members of many unions joined together to send the message that we are the ones who promote elevating standards, not Greyhound. Greyhound seeks to lower standards of working people by proposing to switch to a non-union drivers uniform.

The despicable test uniforms the company is getting from Cintas, a rabidly anti-worker outfit, are in use in Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee and are now being distributed to drivers in Texas. The Cintas record of discrimination and substandard treatment of its workers was detailed at the rally by speakers from the UNITE HERE international union, whose members make the grey uniforms Greyhound drivers have worn for decades. Greyhound's announced intention to change from Cintas to uniforms made in China only changes the address of the sweatshop. An injury to one is still an injury to all.

Our good brother Elwood Flowers, a veteral Chicago labor leader and former president of ATU Local 308, introduced the speakers, who included Darrell Jefferson, president of ATU Local 241. Locals 308 and 241 represent the workers who operate the Chicago public transit system. They played a major role in preparing for the rally. Other unions represented at the rally were the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Chicago Federation of Labor and the Illinois State AFL/CIO, along with JOBS WITH JUSTICE also participated.

The big turnout of Local 1700 members from Chicago and all over the Midwest, who were colorfully decked out in Local 1700 t-shirts, made the rally a resounding success. Greyhound cannot have failed to get the message that its workers are united in our opposition to the lowering of standards that their miserable new uniform represents.

Local 1700 members at the rally vowed to carry our campaign against lower standards to all parts of the country, until Greyhound sees the light and changes its ways.