Bus drivers plan to come to work as usual Friday morning to deliver New Haven’s children to public schools.
There were concerns that that wouldn’t happen after a short-lived spontaneous walkout by bus drivers Thursday that began after the kids were dropped off at school and ended right before it was time to pick them up. (Click here to read about that.)
The drivers have been at odds with First Student, the private company that hires them under a contract with the school system. The drivers have been working without a contract since June 30. Thursday’s mini-strike erupted after talks stalled.
The talks started back up Thursday night. Both sides met for some three hours in the Career High School cafeteria. CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 organizer Kevin Mercik said 200 drivers showed up.
Afterwards, Mercik announced that the two sides had made progress. So “the drivers are going back to work tomorrow.” He said that progress was especially made on economic issues; he declined to elaborate.
The bargaining unit’s 325 drivers earn between $13.25 and $18.55 an hour shuttling some 18,000 students to and from school each day.
The two sides plan more bargaining sessions Monday and Tuesday mornings beginning at 10.
Union spokesman Ben Phillips said “the strike option is still on the table.” But he said Thursday night’s session saw First Student “negotiating in good faith.”
Meanwhile, a note of optimism was sounded even in Chicago.
New Haven school bus drivers have an extremely important and difficult job. They deserve to be fairly compensated. To those who don't think so, I urge you to volunteer as a bus monitor at least for a day!