Negotiations Between Teamsters, Durham Falter

Negotiations between a school bus contractor and its union employees have deteriorated, putting school transportation for three Lowcountry school districts into question.

School districts and Teamsters 509 officials have said Tuesday afternoon buses will not be affected by the deterioration. Charleston County School Superintnedent Nancy McGinley issued a statement at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday assuring parents that buses will run on schedule Wednesday as well:

"I have been assured that both sides want to sincerely come to an agreement and will exhaust every avenue to avoid a work stoppage, including consideration for mediation."

It added that both sides agreed to continue negotiations and drivers will report for their regularly scheduled routes Wednesday.

. On the first day, districts have said only special needs children will have transportation. 

The contractor's representatives allegedly walked out of a meeting with its employees during negotiations Tuesday morning, according to some sources. However, the Durham School Services released a statement Tuesday afternoon denying they walked out but calling the union's demands "unreasonable."

Charleston County School District, Dorchester County School District Two and Beaufort County School District have outsourced student transportation to Durham School Services. The company's employees are members of Teamsters 509. 

In January, bus drivers for all three districts authorized a strike as negotiations between employees and the company stalled. After the strike authorizations, negotiations began in earnest. Durham representatives said the negotiations rest on increasing pay — the company has offered 3 percent and the employees are seeking 8 percent. However, employees have said unsafe working conditions, benefits and more are also part of the negotiations. In a statement Tuesday, Durham said it has raised its initial offer. 

ABC News 4 reported Durham School Services representatives walk out of negotiations Tuesday morning.

Durham released this statement, refuting the claim they walked out:

Durham School Services did not walk out on meetings this morning with the union. We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is beneficial to all parties. In our negotiations session yesterday, we increased our offer but following further discussions this morning, remain unable to meet the unreasonable demands of the union. While the union rejected our offer of mediation made earlier in negotiations, we stand ready to continue discussions, whether through continued negotiations or mediation, should they decide to adjust their demands.

Previously, the Teamsters have released statements saying so long as negotiations were ongoing, they would not strike. 

The Post and Courier reported Teamsters 509 President J.D. Fletcher said they have not officially called a strike and buses will run as normal Tuesday afternoon. There is no word on bus operation for Wednesday. Requests seeking comment from the Teamsters and Durham were not returned. 

Charleston County School District spokesman Jason Sakran spoke with Patch and said the district hasn't been informed whether buses will run on schedule on Wednesday but that it would be prepared to deal with fallout from a strike if necessary: 

The buses are running on a normal schedule today (Tuesday), at this point we don't know what will happen tomorrow, if the buses will run, if the drivers and Durham will continue negotiations, that's something you'll have to ask them.

We do have contingency plans in place and we've been communicating with school principals and parents.

For right now keep checking the District website, social media and
local news for more information as it becomes available.

Dorchester Two spokeswoman Pat Raynor echoed Sakran's statement and added, "Everyone's on edge."