Thursday, February 04, 1999
Schools hope to avert bus drivers' strike
BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
UNION TOWNSHIP — Negotiators for Laidlaw Transit and West Clermont School District bus drivers will meet Monday, in hopes of averting a strike the drivers' local union recently voted to pursue.
Both sides said Wednesday they're prepared for a strike, but would prefer to avoid one. A strike would affect almost 10,000 students in 12 schools, including Glen Este and Amelia high schools.
The 87 West Clermont drivers, represented by Teamsters Local 100, have been without a contract since July 31.
They say they are paid significantly less than drivers in surrounding areas in which drivers work directly for the school district.
West Clermont has for the past five years contracted with Laidlaw. It provides transportation for districts throughout Greater Cincinnati, including Loveland, Madeira, Batavia and Clermont Northeastern.
“I'm very hopeful, I don't see a reason why we can't reach some kind of compromise,” Laidlaw area general manager Dale Moser said Wednesday. “Any type of interruption in service doesn't serve well the students, the parents, the community, the administration, or either party in these negotiations.”
But, he added, Laidlaw — with more than 40,000 employees — has enough workers licensed to drive school buses to replace the potential strikers.
“We are prepared to deal with this,” Mr. Moser said.
West Clermont Superintendent Dennis Devine said Wednesday night that he's been assured Laidlaw can provide safe transportation in the event of a strike.
Linda Bloom, a bus driver for 11 years and a union steward, said the strike vote on Jan. 23 was 74-2 in support, with 11 drivers not voting. All 76 voting members rejected Laidlaw's contract offer. The union is awaiting final approval by the Teamsters, she said.
“We haul the most precious cargo in the world,” Ms. Bloom said, “and we should be paid for it.”
The union's position is that West Clermont drivers are paid much less than drivers in the surrounding districts of Bethel, Milford, Batavia, New Richmond and Forest Hills.
Starting salary for West Clermont drivers, Ms. Bloom said, is $9.22 per hour. Starting hourly salaries in the surrounding districts range from $10.89 in Bethel to $12.61 in Forest Hills. In Batavia, which is handled by Laidlaw, starting salary is $11.48 per hour.
Mr. Moser said the salary disparity is mitigated by the fact that Laidlaw drivers — unlike district-contracted drivers — are eligible for unemployment during the summer.
“We hate getting unemployment,” Ms. Blum countered. She added that many drivers have second jobs and therefore aren't eligible for unemployment benefits.
A federal mediator is involved in the negotiations.
Monday's meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Eastgate.
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