The bus drivers who shuttle Facebook employees from one area to the next in Silicon Valley are crying foul as they seek to be unionized. The drivers claim that the pay they are getting is too low, as it doesn't even allow them to live in Silicon Valley, or areas nearby.
Another issue the drivers have brought forward is the slave-like work hours. These Facebook drivers leave home from 5 a.m., begin work at 6 a.m., and finish by 9 p.m. That's 15 hours of work per day, and as such, the drivers are seeking help from Teamsters union on the matter.
Furthermore, we understand that in a move to get things up and running, the union has written to Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, asking him to get involved and do something about the driver's plea. We expect Zuckerberg to make a difference here since the issue is now part of the media and completely in the public's spotlight.
"While your employees earn extraordinary wages and are able to live and enjoy life in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the Bay Area, these drivers can't afford to support a family, send their children to school, or, least of all, afford to even dream of buying a house anywhere near where they work," according to the letter written [pdf] by Teamsters union.
As things stand, though, it appears the biggest problem facing drivers is not the pay. Apparently, it has a lot to do with the work hours more than anything else, but that's the thought process of a single driver. According to Cliff Doi, 55, he leaves home at 5 a.m. when his children are asleep, and when he returns home, the children have already done their homework and are getting ready for bed.
The argument here is that drivers are not spending enough time with their families, and Facebook needs to do something about that as soon as possible.
The New York Times has reported that a Facebook representative who chose to speak under anonymity said the social network had a signed a contract with the bus company, and that it was the company, not Facebook, which should set driver's wages, and their work hours.
If that is the case, then it appears Facebook might have a new battle on its hands.
