Members of Teamsters Local 991 held a practice protest Thursday morning at the Santa Rosa County School District’s Professional Development Center. The chapter’s business agent, Lavon Lindsey, said “We hope there’s no actual protest.” Lindsey said the Local 991 hopes to send a message by this practice protest encouraging Durham School Services, the company employing Santa Rosa County bus drivers, to get to the bargaining table with union members.
According to Lindsey, Durham has refused to negotiate a contract with their union in violation of federal labor law. “The law says we have the right to join and form a union. We held an election February 11, 2013.” Lindsey said the vote, with 112 for unionizing and 74 against representation, established the union. Lindsey said the drivers are looking for collective bargaining wages and raises. “And they don’t honor seniority,” he said.
Durham school bus drivers and monitors then attended Thursday’s Santa Rosa County School Board meeting. Tom Kasperek, SRC bus driver speaking before the school board repeated Lindsey’s claims, saying Durham refuses bargaining outright. He said, “We feel that the roadblock is at the corporate level and not local management. We’re tired. We love our job. We love the children. We care for them every day. We see them probably as much as anybody else if not more. We feel that we are just plain unimportant. We don’t want to feel that way and I think you don’t want us to feel that way either.” Kasperek received no response.
Sandra Nicely, SRC school bus driver, said in Navarre alone 23 buses drivers reported had no working air conditioning. Seat belts were another issue.
“We have seatbelts but we can’t enforce them,” Nicely said. The Santa Rosa County 2014-2015 code of student conduct says, “Remain in your seat with the seatbelt buckled at all times while bus is moving.” However, Nicely said drivers receive no backup when trying to enforce their use by way of referral. She said the younger students listen, but the older ones do not.
“For two out of three runs, kids won’t wear them,” she said. She said two brand new buses came equipped with belts but asked why the board would spend the money on the buses with belts if they’re use is not enforced.
Jennifer Fowler, driver of bus #996 said the first day back to school the bus had no air conditioning and no working microphone for the radio. Fowler said during a run she found a student had missed his stop after falling asleep. Normally, she said she could use the radio to report the situation. Instead, she had to stop, put on her lights, and use her personal phone to contact dispatch. Buses of years ago may not have had air conditioning or radios but Fowler said, “If you’re paying for a service, you expect it to work. It’s in the contract.” She also said she’s not allowed to drive with her phone turned on, which takes extra time before making a call. Fortunately, Fowler’s situation did not involve a more serious medical situation where seconds count. She could not say for sure how many other buses have problems with the microphones.
Before Kasperek finished his comments to the board, he said, “I’m sorry, but myself and coworkers just simply cannot promise labor peace in the near future.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Bus drivers to school board: “We cannot promise labor peace”