On July 14, over 150 school bus drivers, elected officials, community supporters and political allies occupied the steps and chambers of the Dorchester District Court in Dorchester, Massachusetts to demand the dismissal of the outrageous frame-up charges against United Steelworkers Local 8751 founder and Chair of the Grievance Committee Stevan Kirschbaum.
Having Kirschbaum in the dock in Dorchester District Court for an arraignment was meant to be the coup-de-grace of Veolia’s campaign to crush Local 8751. However, the judge — who could have arrested Kirschbaum or set a high bail — released him on his own recognizance.
The prosecution then sought a restraining order to keep Kirschbaum off Veolia’s Bus Yard property in an effort to prevent him from performing his union duties to the membership. This was denied. Attorney Wilson filed a motion to Dismiss and remand the case to the clerk magistrate which will be heard at the Sept 15 pre-trial hearing.
The militant courthouse turnout of rank-and-file members inside and outside the court by this mostly Haitian, Cape Verdean and African-American local was accompanied by supporters like City Councilor Charles Yancey; former City Councillor Chuck Turner; Touch 106.1 Radio’s Charles Clemons; and Sandra MacIntosh from the Coalition for Equal Quality Education. Also present were two other leaders of the union, Andre Francois and Steve Gillis.
Gillis, Francois, Kirschbaum and Garry Murchison were illegally fired by Veolia, a French-based, union-busting transnational, last October.
