After three years without a revised contract, SMART-TD Local 1704 ratified a tentative agreement (TA) in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday with First Student. The 66-member local’s refreshed contract secured significant raises, the addition of one paid holiday and made it so that six years of seniority raised their members to the top of the pay scale, rather than the 16 years required in past contracts.

Preparation from SMART-TD bus union empowered Local 1704 leaders

Local 1704 negotiators General Chairperson Darryl Redmon, President Ethel Maze and Trustee Carol Johnson poses with Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval.

After months of negotiation, Local President Ethel Maze was quick to credit the preparation she and her team, including General Chairperson Darryl Redmon and Trustee Carol Johnson, received from Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval for their success. Maze said that in past negotiations, she had been in the room but wasn’t able to take the lead in getting her people what they needed. This time around, she could rise to meet the moment.

“James (VP Sandoval) spent an entire day with a group of four local officers and taught us things we never knew about how to advocate for our members,” she said. “Not only did this help in negotiating this agreement, but it also made me more effective in representing my members on the property in day-to-day operations.

Know your contract and stand firm

“Through my conversations with James, I found things in our agreement First Student has never honored. It empowered me to go into the office and stand firm, insisting on improvements to which we are contractually entitled. All in all, our team, along with VP Sandoval, put Local 1704 on a better track, and we provided a quality of life for our men and women that is better than our managers wanted us to believe was possible,” Maze continued.

SMART-TD succeeds in tense negotiations

Some of the members of Local 1704 pose for a photo after ratification of a contract July 20 that brought a three-year negotiation process to an end.

Negotiations came to a head when management called for an all-day closed-door session.

Sandoval attended the meeting and had high praise for the efforts and professionalism of 1704’s local officers.

“Maze, Redmond, and Johnson were an impressive team. It was obvious to everyone in the room that they had done their homework,” he said. “Sister Maze took the lead in the negotiations, and she left no doubt that she knew the contract, the rights of her people, and most importantly, that she had her finger on the pulse of what her brothers and sisters needed to achieve in this agreement.”

Preparation and hard work results in overwhelming support

The proud, 66-member local had not received a significant raise or a revised contract in three years. Their local negotiating team received overwhelming support by their brothers and sisters.  The July 20th vote ratified the tentative agreement with a resounding 97% approval.

LACMTA, SEPTA, CATS, Montebello, California, and other properties have won strong agreements, increased member safety, and operators and mechanics were brought back to work. While these large properties get large headlines, SMART-TD believes that, whether a local has 60 or 600 members, every member deserves the same training, representation and resources.

That’s how we fight, and why we win.

Vice Chairperson Debria L. Bradford (GCA-STU), 56, a longtime officer of SMART Transportation Division Local 1704 (Kansas City, Mo.), passed away Jan. 26, 2022.

“She served numerous positions in our local — sergeant of arms, trustee,” said General Chairperson Sharon Harris (GCA-STU). “Debria was instrumental in helping negotiate our last contract. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Services for Sister Bradford will be Feb. 4, 2022, beginning with a 10 to 11 a.m. viewing. Services will immediately follow at Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, 11424 Hickman Mills Dr., Kansas City, Mo., 64134

“Our union mourns her passing,” said Bus Department Vice President Calvin Studivant. “May her memory always be a blessing.”

SMART Transportation Division expresses its condolences to Sister Bradford’s family, friends and her brothers and sisters in Local 1704 whom she proudly served for many years.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Y. Pearson, former general chairperson of GCA-STU and a former local chairperson for Local 1704 (Kansas City, Mo.), passed away Dec. 13, 2021, at the age of 55.

Pearson
Sister Pearson served more than four years in both of those officer positions as well as serving as her local’s trustee for more than a year.

“The SMART-TD Bus Department along with the entire SMART organization mourns her passing,” Bus Department Vice President Calvin Studivant said. “It was a pleasure working with Jackie, and she will be missed by those who knew her. We pass along our condolences and sympathy to her family and friends. May her memory always be a blessing.”

Visitation is scheduled 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 22, 2021, at Watkins Heritage Chapel, 4000 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64130, with services conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23. Interment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left here.

SMART TD Bus Vice President Calvin Studivant reports that Roshonda McIntosh, 41, died March 16, and Ira Fitzgerald, 53, died March 17. Both members had been ill.
McIntosh and Fitzgerald were both members of Local 1704 in Kansas City, Mo., and had been long-time bus operators for First Student, Inc.
SMART TD wishes to express our condolences to the families, friends and members of Local 1704 during this difficult time.


Ira Fitzgerald

Ira Joe Fitzgerald enjoyed working on cars, fishing and interacting with his family. He attended Vatterrott College in Kansas City, Mo., where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. When he was driving buses for First Student, Fitzgerald worked with different contractors as an electrical engineer.
He is survived by his children, Joseph Terrell Henderson, Treneka Robinson, LaStarza Thomas, Donte Ridgeway and Illisha Fitzgerald; step mother Rose Dianne Fane; brothers James Martin, Johnny Fitzgerald, Lovell Martin, Anthony Fame, Michael Tate, Ira Carthell Hickman, Darrell Fane, Corey Fane and Edward Monte Shelby; sisters Patricia Hixon, Diane Stevens, Ileasia Handy, Tameka Fane, Lisa Jones, Margie Fane and Danea Fane; and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 25, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at New Greater Love Church, 1249 N. 12th St., Paducah, KY 42001.
Click here to view the official obituary or to leave condolences for the family.


Roshonda McIntosh

Visitation for Roshonda Monique McIntosh will be held Friday, March 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Highland Park Funeral Home and Crematory, 4101 State Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102. Funeral services will immediately follow visitation at 12:00 p.m.
Click here to view the official obituary and to leave condolences.