About 1/3 of Durham school bus drivers out after paychecks fail to arrive
Almost 50 of an estimated total 160 school bus drivers in Durham were not available to work on Monday, many of them in protest because they haven't been paid. Others stepped up to drive additional routes so that no trips were left unserved.
Posted — Updated
"Some DPS employees paid on a biweekly schedule, including members of the Transportation department, did not receive their pay deposits on time this week," the district said in a press release.
Drivers who spoke to WRAL News pointed out that, given the biweekly schedule, that meant no checks since before Christmas.
"They sent a voice recording out on Saturday saying that it was due to SunTrust bank changing names because they were being bought out by a different company. But at the same time even if they did change their name, I’m pretty sure that they had to have given HR or payroll some kind of information that they were going to be doing that," one driver said.
"They have had to some kind of fair warning, and they gave us no warning at all and therefore left everyone in a bind. ... Bus drivers don’t make that much, and to top it all off you don’t get paid for three weeks and a whole extra weekend? That’s a lot on somebody. It’s been frustrating to say the least."
Officials said they are hopeful the paychecks will be deposited by Monday night, three days after pay day.
DPS was offering drivers $100 gift cards and support while the issue is resolved.
"The gift card is not going to cover those fees if somebody’s account is now into the negative," a driver said.
Drivers, who recently fought to get a raise amid the ongoing bus driver shortage, told WRAL News this is another setback for them. In September, the Durham Board of Education approved a raise for drivers to $17 an hour, making Durham drivers among the highest paid bus drivers in North Carolina.
"We just want to get paid when we’re supposed to get paid," said one driver who called out Monday. "Be truthful with us. They need to know that we’re serious about being treated fairly and being paid fairly."
Parents in Wake and Durham counties are encouraged to use the Here Comes the Bus app to check for uncovered or absent routes.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
