Posted: Sun 11:12 PM, Oct 23, 2011
Reporter: Krystle Sonmore
Updated: Mon 6:14 PM, Oct 24, 2011
District 51 bus drivers contemplate strike if contract isn't settled
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - School bus drivers for Mesa County's District 51 say they're contemplating striking if they can't work out a contract with their employer, Ohio-based First Student, Inc..
A representative for the the bus drivers and monitors says they are meeting this week with their union representatives to draft a new contract. If first student employees can't work out a deal with their higher-ups, than District 51 could be out of transportation, should the strike go through. First Student workers say they want to be fairly compensated. They say they already continued working long enough without a new contract.
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by anonymous on Oct 30, 2011 at 02:54 AMUnions......destroying this country one day at a time.
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by gjnewbie7 on Oct 26, 2011 at 02:56 PMSome take out there insecurities on others, aspen is a lead example of such nonsense. To each there own? Right? You all know what they say about opinions? There like a**holes .. we all have one. No need to be a jerk because your views differ.
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by Nancy Location: Grand Junction Bus Driver on Oct 26, 2011 at 10:09 AMThank-You McD's for allowing District 51 Bus Drivers to come in and drink the cheapest and best cup of coffee. First Student has told us to find a place to park out, it is kind of hard to find a place to park that will accomodate a bus and not take up customer parking. We cannot leave our bus running more than 3 minutes (Anti-Idling Policy)or we can be fired. We come into these places to keep warm or cool off as we have no air-conditioners on buses. We save the School District money by mileage/fuel by not returning to the lot, we usually stop at a spot on the way to our next school. Please know what you are talking about when you make comments. By the way I cant find the Doughnuts at McD's! Oh and I am a college educated bus driver.
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by CrysLakeBusBriver#88 on Oct 25, 2011 at 11:02 PMI was shocked when a parent of a child I transport asked me why we were striking. After saying I knew nothing about striking, she was shocked. She said "How can you work for someone and have a union and not know your striking?". GOOD QUESTION!! I am a Teamster who has my own issues with First Student and who has never been afraid to voice my issues. I make it a point to listen when we have a Union meeting or a Safety meeting so that when I do voice my opinion on any issue, I have my facts straight so that I do not end up doing what one of my co-workers did and stir up something as ridiculous as saying were striking. To my co-worker...ATTEND A MEETING & PAY ATTENTION! To those of you who do not work with us...TAKE 5 MIN TO TALK TO A DRIVER,(we can be found Mon-Fri at any BK, McDonalds, City Market or empty parking lot between 7am and 8am) LOL
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by Really? on Oct 25, 2011 at 07:11 PMYou guys are in a union? Do yourself a favor and lose the union. Keep the dues for yourself. There's your raise.
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by useyourbrain Location: Grand Junction on Oct 25, 2011 at 06:25 PMFACT: bus drivers in this valley DO get paid while they are sitting at McDonalds, BK, etc waiting to pick up elementary kiddos....
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by Guest on Oct 25, 2011 at 04:45 PMNow is a rough time to decide to strike. There are a lot of people out there who would take this job at the current pay. Not saying ya'll don't deserve a raise, but you need to look at the cost/benefit of a strike...
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by mosaic on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:56 PMPeople that live here are mean to each other!
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by CT on Oct 25, 2011 at 04:53 PM in reply to mosaicI too am tired of the negativity around here. What ever happened to COMMUNITY and neighbors helping neighbors? I realize this is off topic, but it seems as though the comments on EVERY single article are littered with negativity. If you don't have something nice to say, STFU... Constructive criticism is one thing, but this is pure ugly!-
by mosaic on Oct 25, 2011 at 09:18 PM in reply to CTWell said! Couldn't agree with you more!
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by Aspen on Oct 26, 2011 at 11:13 AM in reply to CTCaution!!!! Only those with opinions that agree with CT are allowed to post comments here.
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by CT on Oct 26, 2011 at 01:33 PM in reply to AspenAspen, please feel free to express your opinions, but is it really necessary to insult others?
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by SayItAintSo on Oct 26, 2011 at 12:01 PM in reply to CT"BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!!!!!" nuf said.
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by CT on Oct 26, 2011 at 01:34 PM in reply to SayItAintSoMaybe you will think I'm ignorant, but what does that even mean?
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by gjnewbie7 on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:33 PMyepp, crying solves ALL your problems!
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by bus driver on Oct 25, 2011 at 06:52 AMTo all of the people that posted negative comments about the drivers... we are not asking to get rich. Al we are asking for is the ability to make ends meet. There is not one of you out there that would just stand by closed lipped about not receiving a raise yearly for the work that you do. Nor would you just take it on payday when you have discovered that you were shorted by multiple hours. Only to have to argue with payroll( knowing you have documents proving your point) only to be told it will not be corrected. If this was solely about a paycheck many of us woul have long since quit. We do this job because we love the children. Seeing a kindergartener's face the first time they step onto the bus. The random "stolen" flowers from the sweetest and sometimes most defiant children. We all come to love all of your children as if they were our own and do the very best we can to protect them and get them safely to school and home for you. We all report to work before the sun comes up, many of us not signing off until long after the sun goes back down again. And now between our company and the community that we serve so diligently we are being told we don't deserve the basic ability to support our families or to feed and cloth our own children. You would pay $15+/ hr to the man that hauls away your trash... when did your children start to rank lower?
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by Disgusted on Oct 25, 2011 at 08:01 AM in reply to bus driverYou have a CDL.....use it. Go haul some freight that pays better. Water truck, OTR, Hazmat, whatever.
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by Anonymous on Oct 25, 2011 at 09:10 AM in reply to bus driverDo you really think you are the only group not getting paid enough and not able to make ends meet? And yes many people only get 5-10 cents yearly raises for the work they do. Many people also get shorted hours they work. You are not the only group this happens to. You are not the only group of people who are being told they don't deserve to support your family or feed and clothe your children.
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by SOS on Oct 25, 2011 at 02:50 PM in reply toits the Same ol Sh%#, I work in a skilled trade and we havent recieved a raise in five years and even then we have sub-par wages. It is the way of Business anymore.
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by SayItAintSo on Oct 25, 2011 at 09:47 AM in reply to bus driverI can hear "BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!!!!!" in your future. Stolen from a great post below....
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by Anonymous on Oct 25, 2011 at 10:47 AM in reply to bus driverIt is illegal for an employer to not pay you for hours worked, you would have a case here if you had your ducks in a row.
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by OhMy on Oct 25, 2011 at 02:57 PM in reply to bus driverGuess what, the breadwinner in our family is earning now, what he did 25 years ago. It's tough all over, but I'm glad you at least like the kids.
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