Acting Secretary Su visits Georgia for Blue Bird Corp. first contract signing; spotlights Biden-Harris administration’s support for unions in the South

FORT VALLEY, GA – On July 19, 2024, Acting Secretary Su traveled to Fort Valley to commemorate Blue Bird Corp.’s historic first contract with United Steelworkers, or USW, joined by members and leaders from the AFL-CIO in Georgia. The Acting Secretary presided as officials of the bus manufacturing company and USW representatives signed their first contract and acknowledged the Biden-Harris administration’s support for union jobs in the South and for the growth in clean energy jobs helped made the action possible.

Acting Secretary Su then toured the Blue Bird Corp. facility and spoke with workers, congratulating them for the hard work that led to the contract’s signing and reiterating the administration’s commitment to supporting workers and investing in union jobs. 

The Acting Secretary offered remarks joined by Fort Valley Mayor Jeffery Lundy, Blue Bird Corp. CEO Phil Horlock, Georgia State AFL-CIO President Yvonne Brooks and Dee Thomas, a masking production associate working at the facility and union member.

“We would also not be here today if President Biden was not taking a serious, whole-of-government approach to creating good union, clean energy jobs to meet our good jobs goals and our climate goals at the same time... all through the Investing in America agenda,” Acting Secretary Su said.

Media coverage highlighted Acting Secretary Su’s announcement as follows:

U.S. Labor Secretary visits Blue Bird facilities following historic union contract

By Lucinda Warnke | July 19, 2024 

“When workers come together in a union, we win a voice to fight for what we deserve,” said Dee Thomas, an 11-year employee of Blue Bird and a union member. “As a proud member of a union, I am here to say that despite what you may have been told, Georgia is for unions.”

Top Labor Department official touts Blue Bird buses, union pact

By Michael E. Kanell | July 19, 2024

“Su had met in March with both union and company executives and challenged them to reach a deal quickly,” she said. ‘The CEO called it ‘the Julie Su challenge’.”

“The union at Blue Bird reached its first contract with the company in May, a pact that includes up to 40 percent raises for some workers, as well as health and safety standards and expanded retirement benefits.”

40% pay raises, 401k benefits and more | Blue Bird signs union contract with Fort Valley workers

By Megan Western | July 19, 2024

“A union relationship is a partnership,” [Blue Bird CEO Phil] Horlock said. “I know Secretary [Julie] Su agrees. She explained that to me, and I'm grateful we listened and we did it. We got it done.”