Negotiations for striking school bus workers on pause for 2 weeks

It looks like the ongoing Mat Su Bus strike will continue with no negotiations planned for the next 2 weeks, according to a statement from the Teamsters Local 959, which received an email Durham School Services indicating a pause on any negotiation plans.

“It is extremely unfortunate that Durham continues to stonewall efforts to come to a fair deal or compromise in any way,” wrote Patrick FitzGerald, a representative from Teamsters Local 959, adding, “They continue to offer no changes to their contract, which prompted the strike.”

In the email to the bargaining team, Durham stated that they are open to reaching (an) agreement with the Teamsters for a collective bargaining agreement for the Durham employees, then offered the suggestion of speaking again in “a week or two to learn if setting a new bargaining date might be fruitful.”

The strike entered its second week, and since the drivers walked off the job on January 31, there have only been 3 rounds of negotiations, with Teamsters saying that Durham has not offered anything beyond the contract that was their “last, best offer.”

“In these meetings, Durham continues to drag their feet, offer no substantial changes, or be willing to compromise to get a deal done and have our workers return to their jobs,” the statement concluded.

“We’d rather be working than walking,” has been a rallying cry from bus drivers on the picket lines since the strike began, and Kelsey Taylor, who has been coordinating efforts for the Teamsters Local 959 has previously said that they are willing to meet with Durham, saying, “We’ve let them know we’re available day, night, weekend, anytime.”