13 Dec 2006 Note: We have corrected the email address for the protest email, and have re-submitted all those which were previously sent. -Web Manager.

13 Dec 2006
Protest against FirstGroup's vicitimisation of school bus driver

Please use this site to protest against FirstGroup's victimisation of school bus driver Sherri Henry.

Sherri and fellow workers Jean Barker took unpaid leave from employer First Student - part of FirstGroup - to attend union conferences in the UK - including the ITF's Gender Workshop on 1st December. Sherri was demoted on her return to the US to the job of substitute driver, in direct response to her determination to continue union activity. During their visit to the UK, both women spoke openly about First Student's activitues in response to their attempts at building trade unions in their workplaces.

Please use the letters below to lodge your protest with FirstGroup.

View archived Protest Letter

View archived Solidarity Email

The ITF is protesting against the victimisation of a FirstGroup driver after she attended an ITF meeting and a Conference of the ITF-affiliated TGWU in London.

Sherri Henry and Jean Barker, school bus drivers from the United States who work for First Student - part of FirstGroup - told the ITF Gender Workshop on 1-2 December that their attempts to form a union at their workplaces had been met by anti-union practices by the UK-based multinational. In addition, the two women - who were on unpaid leave - had been threatened with sanctions should they take up the TGWU's invitation to attend union meetings in the UK.

Following her return to work in Wilson County, Tenessee, Sherri Henry's manager informed her that she was no longer assisgned to a regular school bus route and would be demoted to the post of permanent Substitute Driver. She was allowed no representation at the meeting. This action has been seen by the Teamsters union as a vindictive act against Sherri.