Could Bus Drivers Go On Strike As School Starts?

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Some school bus drivers are considering going on strike in Anne Arundel County because of inadequate health insurance. The potential puts student transportation in question days before classes resume.

The bus drivers will vote on Monday, the first day of classes, on whether to authorize a strike. A yes vote would not immediately start a strike. It would just give the union permission to initiate a strike if negotiations break down.

"One of the main sticking points is adequate and reasonable access to health care," Ray Lee, special assistant to the union president, told Patch in a Friday interview. "What they're offering them right now is the bare minimum that's required under federal and state law."

The drivers are employed by Annapolis Bus Company (ABC) and RE Wilson. Both companies operate in unison under the umbrella of Student Transportation of America. This would be RE Wilson's first strike vote.

The Annapolis Bus Company and RE Wilson declined Patch's request for comment. Student Transportation of America did not immediately reply to our email. We will update this story if a spokesperson responds.

Anne Arundel County relies on several bus companies, not just this conglomerate. A strike would not disrupt every bus route in the county.

The drivers are represented by UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO and are dissatisfied with the company's best and final offer.

"We believe that the employer is not going to budge on their last proposal," Lee said.

Lee said the bus company only offers health benefits to drivers through the Affordable Care Act. He doesn't think that's good enough.

"It's more like a coupon," Lee said, pointing to some drivers with out-of-pocket expenses topping $1,000.

Lee said the bus company provides its office workers with health insurance through CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. He hopes drivers can access the same benefits.

"No deal gets done without affordable and adequate health care access to the employees," Lee said.

Lee did not immediately answer Patch's follow-up question on whether the drivers are full- or part-time employees.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools confirmed that it is aware of the situation. AACPS declined Patch's request for comment, however, because "this is an issue between employees and management of the bus company."

History Of Bus Issues

Bus driver labor issues were a hot topic when students returned to schools after the pandemic shutdown.

In October 2021, Annapolis Bus Company drivers went on a wildcat strike, an unplanned work stoppage without the union's consent.

The high-profile dispute prompted signing and retention bonuses about a month later. That stemmed the tide of the bus driver shortage, but it didn't fix it completely.

Bus issues continued into autumn 2022, with families checking a website daily to see if their students would have a bus that day.

Still facing bus delays and cancelations, AACPS required families to opt into bus service for their students starting in April 2022.

AACPS later hired van drivers to fill the gaps. School bus drivers need a commercial license, but van drivers do not. That made it easier for schools to find drivers for small shuttles that substituted some absent buses. By December 2022, AACPS had restored service to nearly 1,600 students with this strategy.

AACPS now has zero bus driver vacancies. There are 59 drivers in training as of Aug. 13. The school system still needs four more van drivers.

Families can sign up for bus disruption notifications at aacps.org/buses.

Related:

• School Bus Service Restored For Nearly 1,600 Students In Anne Arundel County
• Bus Driver Shortage: Anne Arundel County Partially Restores About 40 Routes
• Bus Driver Shortage Challenges Anne Arundel County Families In New School Year
• Bus To School No Longer Automatic For AACPS, Families Must Now Opt Into Transportation
• Bus Drivers Unionize Despite Recent Bonuses In Anne Arundel County: Report
• Bus Driver Shortage: Signing, Retention Bonuses Announced In Anne Arundel
• Solution To Bus Driver Shortage: AACPS Suggests Paying Drivers Higher Salary
• Bus Driver Shortage: Anne Arundel Leader Urges AACPS To Act, Plans Online Forum
• Bus Driver Strike Slows Transportation At Dozens Of Anne Arundel County Schools: Reports