Politics & Government

Teamsters Hold Election April 13

Dorchester Two bus drivers will vote on whether or not they want a union to negotiate contracts.

Alleged unsafe working conditions and unfair wages have lead bus drivers to seek possible unionization. 

Unlike public entities like school districts, unions can negotiate contracts with private companies. And as the state seeks to privatize school bus services, two of three of the privatized fleets in South Carolina have joined Teamsters 509. 

Now, a third district could have union representation for bus drivers.

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bus drivers, who work for Durham School Services of Illinois, will vote on whether or not to have the union negotiate their employment contracts April 13. . 

For the last week, Teamster representatives have been talking to employees at their homes and outside the Durham office near . On Friday, S.C. Rep. David Mack, D-District 109, addressed workers in support of the union. 

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Sebrina Isom, who works for Durham in Beaufort County School District and is a union member, is organizing here. Durham also has services in Charleston County School District. 

Isom said unionization has a four-to-one support among employees in Dorchester Two. And why not? Beaufort and Charleston bus drivers earn more and drive safer buses, according to Isom. 

The school district had said little on the subject since the employees are not under their supervision.

"There have been several drivers that have broached the subject of unionization," Dorchester Two spokeswoman Pat Raynor said. "We certainly have interest in it and kept abreast about it."

She added that the company has "periodic" town halls with employees so that drivers can talk about concerns. Durham's public relations department did not return a request seeking an interview.

On Monday, the union sought to review the district's contract with the private company through a Freedom of Information Act request. This wasn't to eliminate corporate profit, but to ensure that workers are paid a fair wage, according to Isom. 

"We're in a right-to-work state and we need job protection," Isom said. "We don't want to rules to change every day." 

She also expressed concern about employees possibly getting fired for complaining about unsafe buses that wouldn't pass a state Department of Transportation inspection. Isom said this is not only a safety issue for the employees, but also a safety issue for the children riding the buses. Already this year, there have a been a number of stranded buses with children aboard, she said. 

Isom cited buses leaking oil and expelling exhaust into the passenger area.

"We don't want workers to lose their jobs by refusing to drive unsafe buses," she said. Right now, Durham has the right to do that, she added. "You're afraid of anything you do. You can be terminated. We want want job protection." 

A majority of buses in Dorchester Two is owned by the state, according to Raynor, but responsibility of replacing the aging fleet now falls to the cash-strapped district. 

At a recent school board budget workshop, district staff expressed concerns on whether or not bill H.4610 — which would privatize all district bus fleets like Beaufort, Charleston and Dorchester Two — would pass. If it does, it would require the 90 buses of the districts 154 buses to be retired and replaced to the tune of $9 million. Those 90 buses are over 15 years old, something the bill would no longer allow to operate. 

Addressing concerns over inflated unions, Teamsters won't stand behind incompetent employees, Isom said. It will only protect those who are competent in their jobs, and negotiate fair wages and safe working conditions, she said.

"Everything has to be negotiated. We do negotiate," Isom said.


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