School buses in the Spring Grove School District will roll Thursday despite the threat of a strike by drivers. Unionized drivers of Durham School Services, represented by Teamsters Local 776 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, voted overwhelmingly tonight to authorize a strike.
In a statement the union leadership says the vote came after months of stalling in negotiations by Durham School Services. They also say workers are calling on Durham to bargain in good faith to reach a fair and equitable agreement that will keep students safe and improve conditions at Durham. Durham is the nations second largest operator of school buses.
The drivers have been working under an extension of the old three year contract which expired on August 31, 2013. Negotiations on a new pact began last July. The union also gave assurances that it will let the school district, students, parents and the community know in advance to any potential job action.