Mohon’s bus driver shortage directly related to low pay THOMAS F. MERRITT Rotterdam
This is in regard to a recent TV news story concerning school bus driver shortages at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District. I do not know their reasons for shortages, but the Mohonasen Central School District has the same problem. I am a driver for Mohonasen, and the problem is we are one of — if not the lowest — paid shops in the Capital Region. We have seen drivers seeking employment, and they often go elsewhere for more money and benefits. I encourage anyone to call the various transportation departments in the area and compare the salaries within these transportation departments. Our struggle continues, as we have tried to secure additional benefits and salary increases. You see, we are 10-month employees, and are part of a union where the majority of the employees are full-time and their interests are not always in line with ours. So far, attempts to form a separate union to represent us more favorably have failed. We are dedicated professionals who have an excellent safety record over the years. We know that the children in this community are in safe hands because we truly believe they are “our kids.” Please support us in our efforts to secure a fair contract that addresses our needs.
Sorry Mr. Merritt. As long as you were sticking your neck out, why didn't you give us the comparisons yourself? People are clearly not going to call around to school districts just to see how much the bus drivers are paid. We need to have someone else do that for us. You know how lazy and disinterested in things were are these days?
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Contracting out bus service endangers kids MARTY SHANTY Charlton
It seems that as time goes on, the decision of many schools districts to contract with private bus companies to bring our children back and forth to school may have been a mistake. When the kids were transported by the schools, most of the drivers were from the district, knew all the routes and generally knew where the kids lived. You didn’t hear of a child being left on the bus for hours at a bus garage, or being dropped off in the wrong location. The drivers had good benefits and stayed on the job for years, getting to know the kids and their families. They watched the same kids go from kindergarten to high school. There is no substitute for this kind of care. Maybe the schools have saved money by not having their own buses and drivers, but at what cost to the children?
ROTTERDAM Mohonasen short on bus drivers Workers say wages less than in neighboring districts BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter JustinMason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Don’t count on finding many drivers or mechanics hanging around Mohonasen’s bus garage during the day. Garage workers said the district has experienced such a shortage of drivers that even the licensed mechanics are routinely picking up Mohonasen’s 11 vacant routes. On at least one occasion last week, a driver returned to the Pinewood Intermediate School to pick up a second run of students after completing the regular route, said Tom Meritt, a driver for the district. “Even our supervisor is out there driving a bus,” he said “That garage is empty during the day.” The shortage has been pronounced enough that the district is offering drivers a $75 finder’s fee once recruits complete training. This fee increases to $125 if the recruit remains with the district for more than a year, according to the memo released March 4. Mohonasen drivers claim this shortage is a result of their wages, which are significantly lower than those paid at neighboring districts. Some of the drivers, mechanics, and accompanying bus aides also believe their bargaining unit, the roughly 200-member Mohonasen Support Staff Association, hasn’t waged an aggressive enough campaign for higher pay. Meritt said pleas for higher bus garage salaries by their one representative on the association’s contract negotiating committee have been ignored. He said the group representing about of quarter of the association’s membership is considering withdrawing from the union once their contract with Mohonasen expires in June. “We’re outnumbered no matter what we do,” he said. But Alma DiCocco, the association president, said the bus drivers aren’t the only ones underpaid or understaffed. She said the whole unit, which includes custodians, clerical staff, hall monitors, food service workers and teacher aides, earns much less than comparable districts. “Everyone is in the same boat,” she said. “We are working toward the common goal of getting everyone up to speed with comparable districts.” All of Mohonasen’s drivers work part time and are entitled to benefits if they reach 20 hours or more in a week. Drivers receive a starting pay of $12.06 per hour and can make up to $6 more at the highest salary step. private Strom, a driver of more than 14 years with the district, said he now is at the top step. Though he’ll receive modest cost-of-living increases, his base salary will remain the same under the soon-to-expire association contract. In contrast, the neighboring Schalmont school district starts drivers $14.06 per hour and will increase this salary to $14.29 by next year. Schalmont drivers can earn up to $23.18 per hour at the highest salary step, district officials said. Mohonasen administrators could not be reached for comment Monday. The plight of Mohonasen’s bus garage workers will certainly be part of contract discussions, said Carl Korn, a spokesman with the New York State United Teachers, which represents the support staff association. He said past bargaining had involved “a great amount of give and take,” but had achieved good success for the association as a whole. “We’re going to work with them at the table, while recognizing the changes and demands faced by all support staff,” he said Monday. Korn said there is no indication of the group splintering from the union at this point. But in the event they did, he said the move would likely hamper their negotiating power. “In unity there is strength,” he said. “And the more voices that can work together on behalf of the employees we think is to the benefi t of all the employees.”
Gee, not enough bus drivers. That is a hard thing. Now, just try to slip it past the local residents who are going to be voting this year with another raise in taxes after they got slammed after the re-evaluation and the fact that the school board decided to NOT to invoke the Homestead Tax Exemption. Now, they're paying about the same taxes as Schalmont residents and they're not happy about it.
Someone I know drives bus for Schalmont. They make $23/hr with benefits and a state retirement. And works 4-5hrs/day. Sure it's a pain in the a** job, but you don't even need a high school diploma to qualify. You just need the right drivers license and be able to stand hearing kids yelling while driving. I wouldn't be my choice of employment, but neither would working at Walmarts.
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