Jackson Free Press

School bus drivers in Hinds, Madison, Clay and Yazoo counties are negotiating for better wages to bring them up from the lowest levels in the area. The drivers, employees of First Student are members of the Teamsters Union. Currently, their wages start at about $9.25 an hour, which is $3 an hour less than drivers receive in neighboring areas, reports Reuters.

Teamsters Local 891 President W.C. Smith rejected the company's offer of a 20-cent hourly increase and a four hour guaranteed work day. "That is an increase of 80 cents a day. That will barely buy a bottle of water," Smith told Reuters. "How are the workers supposed to support their families?

The report states that the bus drivers do not have health insurance or paid holidays. The union is looking for an increase of 80 cents an hour, or about $3 a day. In comparison to the wages paid in this area, First Student pays drivers on the coast $11 an hour and guarantees five hours of work per day.

Drivers will continue to work for the rest of the week, however Smith has indicated an intention to strike if an agreeable contract can't be reached by Friday.

Previous Commentsshow

With Education budgets having to be tightened and unemployment at the current rate, I'm surprised the union is even thinking about going on strike. I'm sure they are some unemployed, non-unionized people out there with commercial licenses and/or whatever requirements needed that would love to make 9.25 an hour right now. Let 'em walk.

RobbieR

Oct 15 2009

I seriously doubt that First Student could hire enough scabs to maintain the bus schedules. Like Robbie R, I say "let em walk". However, my motives are purely selfish. I welcome the opportunity to photograph the movers and shakers of Madison, Hinds, Clay and Yazoo counties willing to cross picket lines to drop their crumb snatchers off at school. Such footage could prove priceless in future election campaigns. Imagine the dashed hopes of a candidate trying to get the endorsement of a labor group when a picture surfaces of him or her crossing a picket line. Priceless. So, to the underpaid Teamsters of Local 891 don't give up the good fight. Position half the members walking the line with signs and the other half with digital camera's in hand. Why should you settle for $9.25 when 39110 (Madison's zip code) is the most affluent zip code in the state? Instead of $11 per hour you should be fighting for $19.

Jeffery R

Oct 15 2009