" Have they looked for a bus service that is nonunion?? That would save them a few bucks and they wouldn't have to worry about a strike...unions shoot themselves in the foot most of the time with their demands and work stoppage. "

" i went to school in charleston and i think its dumb that the drives would do something like this cuz childerns education is more important then anything i cant beleive that charleston would do that to there kids. "

" Why can't they strike when it's inconvient for the drivers and the company NOT families? I'm sure both sides feel strongly, but we're stuck in the middle! I think the district should look for alternatives right away - better be prepared and not need to use it, than leave the students, families and teachers stuck. "

" Fire the bums who wont show up for work... hire substitutes.. but make them permanent... Unions are destroying America... wake up people and realize this... their motto is the same as the Communist were 100 years ago..."Workers Unite" ... Unions need to be reformed.. not healthcare.... "

" Safetydance, I don't know much about stuff like this, but I wonder if Charleston is obligated to work with this company since they're under contract. On the other hand, it seems to me that a strike might nullify any contract since the company is unable to fulfill its duties. I wonder...does Charleston have any recourse at all if the company fails to fulfill its part of the bargain? "

" "The Charleston First Student drivers voted to unionize about a year ago..."

And there's the first problem right there. How'd that union thing work out for Trailmobile and Blaw Knox by the way?

In the economic situation we are in today and all they can think of is themselves. They aren't hurting First Student or the school district, they are hurting the children and the parents of those children. What happens when the parents lose jobs because they couldn't go to work that day?

Absolutely pathetic. "

" Pretty hard to save a buck at what they pay the bus drivers already. It's basically a part-time job at near minimum wage so...yeah. Try to find a non-union bus service and pay them less. They can't find enough drivers as it is to work for what they pay. "

" At least the service is named First Student rather than student first since the students are the victims.

Maybe I am jaded after bailing out the auto industry after years of pandering to union demands. Maybe these drivers are paid less than minimum wage and work for tips with no benefits. Maybe the teamsters are the hero looking out for workers that are underpayed and work in deplorable conditions.

Having spoken to people involved, what is really happening is that the drivers are not even sure what is going on. This means, as usual, the teamsters are holding the drivers, the company and the students hostage to justify their existence "

" With unemployment so high, replacing union drivers with non-union drivers would not be difficult. "

" ...i think its dumb that the drives would do something like this cuz childerns education is more important then anything...
---
Irony, anyone? "

" EIUstudent68-Do you have any idea what is required to be a bus driver? I can tell you do not. Not just anyone off the street can drive a bus. You must pass a background check, drug test, physical, and then pass 75 hours of training for which you are not paid for half of, pass an 8 hour class required by the State of Illinois, take 15 hours of behind the wheel training, then pass your written, and driving CDL, with passenger indorsement, bus indorsement, air brake indorsement. A lot of things are required to be a bus driver which is good, and parents can feel safe that their children are in save hands. Then drive a 40 foot bus with 40-65 students to and from school. Now tell me that these drivers are only worth minimum wage! Believe me they are not doing this for the money because it is a part time job to say the least. They just want to be paid what other bus drivers doing the same job are being paid. There are openings for anyone that is looking for work. The bus garage has drivers doing double duty now because no one is lining up for the jobs. "

" Thanks for the info Granny. I didn't know it took that much to become a bus driver. "

" ...i think its dumb that the drives would do something like this cuz childerns education is more important then anything...
---
Irony, anyone? "

Irony seems to fit, TQ. I would argue that sad might be a better word. "

" Well said, TQ & HP - right on target. "

" One of my co-workers said it best, "It is sad when the person who come to your house and picks up your trash makes more money then the person who comes and picks up your children!" Think about it? YOUR CHILDREN! Thanks to granny, yes being a busdriver takes lots of initial training and ongoing. We just want a livable wage! Hope all of you guys in Charleston dont have to strike, lets hope it does get worked out. You got to do what you got to do. "

" I posted this on another thread about this situation but I feel that it fits here as well. "BusDriver, first off let me say that many of us do sympthathize with your plight. You are right it is only fair in any job that anyone works that they be paid similar to what others in their position are making. I do know that your job is valuable and it requires a lot of training to become a bus driver. I think that with this economy the way it is, many are worried about where the money for pay raises for not only bus drivers but those recent county board memeber raises will come from. I think rather than the county board voting its memebers pay raises that money should have went back into the county, heck they could have used that money to pay for the raise you and your fellow drivers are seeking. I do belive that if this economy wasn't so bad that no one would object to you and your fellow drivers wanting a pay raise.
Many parents do appriciate the job you do, you are transporting "precious cargo" in the way of our children.

I just feel that with this economy the way it is that it is just hard for many of us to agree to pay raises for anyone right now. Nothing agasint you or your fellow drivers personally I don't think that any of the state politicains should have gotten their pay raises either with the economy being in the state it is in.

I live on a fixed income and I can and do understand your plight. 12,000 a year is not enough to live on I will not dispute that fact. I feel that it is sad when I see some of my children's teacher's aides working at their second job in the mall or walmart, I feel that anyone that works with our children be they: school faculty, bus drivers, teachers, teachers aides, personal one-on-one aides etc should be paid a decent wage. I also feel that anyone in the military, or who is a firefighter, police officer or emt should be paid a decent wage as well. Those who work with our children should be paid well because they have an important job, and yes BusDriver that includes bus drivers who have to transport our children to school and back home safely. Those in the military, police, firefighters and emt's risk their lives everyday to help others. We should pay them a decent wage. I understand sticking it out a job that does not pay well because you truly love your job. I know this economy has made everything very difficult for everyone. I do wish all of the drivers as well as the parents and students of Charleston good luck. Hopefully a compromise of some sort can be reached so that the bus service can contine while the negotiations for a raise are being worked out. Good luck to all." "

" Sounds great safety-dance let children ride with non-union drivers, do not worry about the quality of the worker the school board would hire. Hell, they are only transporting children. Get a grip the Teamsters' Local #26 has the highest regard for safety and effeciency. It is like the airline pilots Union you want them to be well paid and happy. Because our children's lives are precious. Would you fly on a non-union piloted commercial aircraft, where the pilot was unhappy, unappreciated and under paid? You can have my ticket on that flight. "

" safetydance wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:42 PM:
" Have they looked for a bus service that is nonunion?? That would save them a few bucks and they wouldn't have to worry about a strike...unions shoot themselves in the foot most of the time with their demands and work stoppage. "

EIUstudent68 wrote on Nov 16, 2009 11:19 PM:
" Fire the bums who wont show up for work... hire substitutes.. but make them permanent... Unions are destroying America... wake up people and realize this... their motto is the same as the Communist were 100 years ago..."Workers Unite" ... Unions need to be reformed.. not healthcare.... "

You say you want to replace the bus drivers with non union drivers? Tell me where you are going to find those drivers and on such short notice. Let me tell you this...if they were to do that my child will NOT be riding the bus. I do have certain standards I uphold on whom I allow to drive my child to school. And just pulling anyone off the street on such a short notice is not a smart thing to do.
Some of you sound like there is another bus service with qualified drivers just sitting back waiting for the contract to come their way. What other bus service?? What other drivers?? Really?? "

" Boo Baa. Make sure of your facts before you judge. Just how hard is it to be a driver, or attendant on a school bus. Hum, a lot training, lot of background checks. a lot of headaches. Its a load of stuff to chew. Who's at fault and why? Just how much profit does one company need to make, before they pass it on to their employs to cement content and good working relationships. Boo Baa "

" I do agree that the drivers are underpaid, but I feel this should have been handled over the summer when there would have been less of an impact on the children. I'm sure they did have some meetings, but did they meet EVERYDAY like they have this week? Probably not. So, because they did not get it together over the summer, the kids may have to pay. Great.

I agree that bus drivers probably do need a raise, but so do a lot of other people. I was due for a raise this year, but did no one here got one because of the economy. How can the driver's union try to force a raise in this economy? The rest of us cannot. "

" Check is in the mail...from what I know it appears they can seek another provider after 24 hours into a strike. I think that is a contract provision...but I am not an attorney you may want to ask Todd....

" Sounds great safety-dance let children ride with non-union drivers, do not worry about the quality of the worker the school board would hire. Hell, they are only transporting children. Get a grip the Teamsters' Local #26 has the highest regard for safety and effeciency. It is like the airline pilots Union you want them to be well paid and happy. Because our children's lives are precious. Would you fly on a non-union piloted commercial aircraft, where the pilot was unhappy, unappreciated and under paid? You can have my ticket on that flight. "


Todd non union doesn't mean non safe...as far as the airline comparison goes...if bus drivers are like airline pilots I would prefer we hire anyone else to take them to school...maybe you haven't turned on the tv over the last five years but a few union airline pilots have been in the news for flying drunk or on drugs...sleeping...and missing the airport for no explainable reason by 150 miles....If that is equivalent to who is driving my children to school I think a non union driver sounds great....who wins with a strike?? The children?? No they are deprived of an education by law they are entitled to. The parent?? No some that can't secure day care will lose their jobs...The driver?? No while on strike they will make next to nothing...substantially less than the salary they accepted when they took the job. No one forced me to take my job...I accepted a settled upon salary from my employer. Even at that we all feel we are over worked and under paid as employees working for others. Who is the winner in a strike?? the union...they get more money for the employee and look out drivers...you will be getting a dues increase soon....the whole concept that unions deliver anything in the 21st century is a joke. They had their time and place when the government looked the other way. With the amount of legislation and regulation, employees in the US are protected better than any employees in the world. "

" Everyone keeps complaining about the drivers and the school. There is no other bus service around here that can handle the contract. The drivers can't really do much now, other than strike; and no you can't just replace them with non-union drivers-they're short staffed as is. If you have complaints, try contacting the company. Perhaps this process will go a little faster. "