Durham school bus drivers, attendants, and monitors vote to authorize a strike

Durham employees overwhelmingly approved the authorization, voting 98% in favor of a strike.

“When you see strike authorization votes pass by margins like this, it shows the solidarity of the employees and a group that is motivated to have better working conditions,” wrote Gary Dixon, the Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 959.

“We don’t want to strike. We want to do our jobs. But the poor working conditions and lack of communication from Durham management has brought us here,” said Patrick FitzGerald, Political coordinator for Alaska Teamsters 959.

The poor working conditions FitzGerald speaks of include no electricity to plug buses in overnight, broken bus heaters and defrost systems, but also Durham’s failure to meet promised recruiting and retention settings.

Durham School Services took over the bus contract at the end of the last school year, and has been plagued with understaffing and parents complaining of children being dropped off at wrong locations and poor communication. The Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) enacted rolling bus schedules since the beginning of the school year while working with Durham to hire more employees.

“When Durham won the contract, we were promised a pipeline of workers, but we’ve only gotten a trickle,” said FitzGerald.

The lack of bus drivers forced MSBSD to enact rolling bus schedules in which schools throughout the Valley had reduced the days of bus transportation on a rotating schedule. Currently, the district is down to 1 day a week in which there is no bus pick-ups.

Reaction has been swift on social media, with many saying they are behind the employees, anger with the bussing services this school year, and frustration that it has reached this point.

“Maybe with the people involved, it would force Durham to finally negotiate a contract. This should have been done before the school year started,” said Cindy Hudgins of Palmer.

“This group of buses run because of these people powering through,” said Kelsey Taylor, a Business Agent for the Teamsters, adding, “their efforts have been awe-inspiring as they continue to work with everything.”

Taylor said that when Durham was awarded the contract to make bussing better but has failed to live up to those obligations.

“The unwillingness of Durham to meet face-to-face, cancelling meetings, the unfair labor practices during the labor negotiations has led the union to file Unfair Labor Practice charges against Durham. The ULP charges will now go to the National Labor Relations Board,” he said.

This isn’t Durham’s first brush with a possible strike amid ongoing negotiations. In late September, Durham School Services and teamsters representing bus drivers in Davenport, Iowa averted a strike after calling in a federal negotiator when contract talks broke down over wages, an extra holiday, and addressing safety issues there.

“This isn’t about if the contract should have been given to Durham or not. This is about the employees actually on the roads and supporting your families and communities they can. They need, want and deserve a fair contract with Durham,” said Christine Spinelli.

During the MSBSD School Board meeting on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani did address the strike authorization vote.


“We are aware of the vote, and we are encouraged that Durham and the teamsters are going back to the table this week. Hopefully, a settlement can be reached, and a strike can be averted. A strike wouldn’t be good for anyone and would only add to families’ stress," he said.

Ironically, he also announced that there will be a return to full bus services beginning January 30.

“This is real full service, rather than having to permanently cancel routes like other districts had to do. We are extremely thankful to get the residential drivers working for us and our kids.”

The only scheduled talks are set for Thursday, though the union says they are open to extending talks. No deadline has been set for a strike if no agreement is reached this week.

“We don’t want to add to family stress, but we need to draw a line for the safety of our drivers and the safety of the students,” said FitzGerald, a sentiment echoed by Taylor.

“The ball is in Durham’s court. For fair and equitable negotiations, they need to come to the table with a fair offer for everyone.”

“The first person and last person most kids see are the bus drivers. Their roles, ensuring their safety, this is ingrained in some of these students’ lives. The drivers and attendants are involved in the academic process and we want to provide the safest service we can,” said FitzGerald.