Local 1700 consistently leads the way when it comes to the safety of our members and the traveling public. The union has insisted on contract language that exceeds federal safety standards. We have conducted “Check Your Bus Days” and other workplace safety actions. And we have worked with governmental agencies to enforce what legal protections exist. No one is more concerned about safety than us.

Now Greyhound has discovered over-theroad safety and is rolling out highly visible, but empty, tokens of its newfound interest. Some managers are insisting that Local 1700 members wear brightly colored Chinese sweatshop vests over our new Chinese sweatshop uniforms, even when commuting to and from work.

Greyhound’s new motto – “If it isn’t safe, don’t do it.” – is what the union has been saying since our founding. The company’s “Injury Prevention Program” isn’t fooling anyone. We should, however, hold management to the high safety standards it now espouses:

• Make full use of the new safety reporting opportunities the company has initiated.


• Write up every violation, unsafe practice or other safety concern that comes up at work and report it to the company.


• If the company fails to follow up, bring the matter to the union’s attention.


• Enforce all safety regulations, minimal as they are.


• Do not under any circumstances take a bus that fails your safety inspection.


• Don’t let management intimidate you into doing anything you know would compromise safety.