A strike by transit workers was canceled early this morning at the Groome Transporation depot on Alabama Highway 14.
Despite the canceled protest, Auburn students from the College Democrats and Auburn City Councilman Arthur Dowdell showed up at the Groome Transportation office at 6 a.m.to show their support.
Some of the benefits transit drivers hope to eventually receive include insurance, vacation pay and overtime pay.
"I wouldn't be here if we didn't have legitimate gripes," Dowdell said. "If they are going to be be in the city of Auburn, running this type of regime, you've got to be concerned about it. As a city councilman and a civil rights worker for more than 30 years, I'm ashamed to even be saying we have this kind of stuff in the city of Auburn."
As the buses pulled out of the transit lot nearby, Dowdell explained the employee's reluctance to protest.
"We are living in a time where the economy is bad, and people are losing jobs every day," Dowdell said. "That's why they don't want to get out of those trucks and stand over here. That's why they called me to speak on their behalf."
Transit driver Cassandra Young said they also did not want to cause disruption for the students as they attend classes.
"The only reason we are driving these buses is for the students, not for Groome," Young said. "It's because we love the students, and a lot of us love our jobs."
Soon after the canceled protest, Young was suspended from work for unknown reasons.
Dowdell said he hopes students will continue to support transit drivers in this difficult time.
"Look at the signs on the truck," Dowdell said. "They have AU, one of the best universities in the country, and they're taking our children back and forth on these buses, but those poor drivers are not being paid for what they're doing.These workers are driving only because of the students. They want to make sure their students get to their classes, but they're suffering."
Dowdell said he expects the owner of Groome Transportation to meet with him soon to find a solution.
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