Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend and Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman released the following statement today regarding the bus driver strike impacting multiple school districts:
“More than 60 local school bus drivers cast a difficult vote this week to reject a contract with First Student Bus Co. in the hopes of gaining better pensions and health care.
Unfortunately, the dispute between local drivers and the private, Ohio-based contractor who employs them has led to temporary disruptions and understandable frustrations for many families in the Appoquinimink, Christina and New Castle County Vo-tech school districts. Please know, the bus drivers have been negotiating for months to avoid this exact situation. In many cases, these drivers are parents and grandparents themselves, and are doing what they believe is necessary to adequately provide for their families.
Like all Delawareans, the men and women we trust to safely transport our children to and from school each day deserve fair working conditions, affordable health care, and the knowledge they will be able to pay their bills after retirement. And, just like you, they want this situation to be resolved as quickly as possible so they can get back to work.”
###