Anne Arundel Bus Drivers Unionize Despite Recent Bonuses: Report

Annapolis MD

11 November, 2021

2:33 PM

Description

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Some Anne Arundel County bus drivers unionized to fight for higher wages, WJZ reported Monday. Journalist Annie Rose Ramos wrote that the workers passed the measure with a 49 to 29 vote. "Bus drivers have been overlooked too long," driver Mamie Tucker Irvin told CBS Baltimore. "Now, we want to be seen and heard and we want to be compensated for the job that we do." The news came four days after Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced a $5,000 bonus for every new or current bus driver. Officials hoped this would address the nationwide shortage of commercial drivers, which has stiffled school transportation around Maryland. Bus attendants will get a $2,000 bonus. "This is the quickest and most fiscally responsible way to address the issue immediately," stated James Kitchin, director of Pittman's Office of Community Engagement and Constituent Services. "We really feel that it is a win for families as well as a win for bus drivers." The county executive will fund this $4.2 million initiative with Anne Arundel's American Rescue Plan money. Pittman also expects a larger transportation budget request from the Anne Arundel County Board of Education next year. This would help the schoool system negotiate bus driver pay raises. These bonuses are not the end of the conversation, but are the fastest way we can get money into the hands of our drivers and aides and address the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff.— County Executive Steuart Pittman (@AACoExec) November 5, 2021 The shortage has been a problem all school year, but it drew more attention when multiple drivers went on strike in early October. This particular labor dispute disrupted transportation from Annapolis to Severn. With unreliable bus service, many families scramble each morning to find a ride for their students. Anne Arundel County Public Schools posts a daily list of all the affected routes at aacps.org/buses. AACPS wants to recruit more drivers at a job fair next Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Severna Park High School. The event will additionally feature openings for more than a dozen other positions. These orginizations will also be at the gathering: Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and ParksAnne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation Interested attendees can see the job listings and register at this link. To learn more about the new union, read WJZ's full story. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. Download our mobile application from the App Store or Google Play. RELATED: Signing, Retention Bonuses Announced For Anne Arundel Bus DriversBus Driver Pay Raise Gains Support, Seeks County Council ApprovalBoard Of Education To Hold Special Meeting To Consider Bus Driver Incentive PackageAACPS Suggests Paying Bus Drivers Higher Salary To Fix ShortagePittman Urges AACPS To Address Bus Driver Shortage, Plans ForumBus Drivers Go On Strike, Slow School Transportation: Reports Have a story idea? Please contact me at [email protected] with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.