Judge Rules in Union's Favor, Unit Five Bus Drivers Temporarily Protected
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: July 18, 2012
BLOOMINGTON--A McLean County judge says the Unit Five School District can't terminate its bus drivers...yet.
Unit Five wants to hire a private company to take care of its bus service.
But the union representing Unit Five's current bus drivers is fighting back.
It asked a judge to block the move.
Wednesday a judge did that, and said Unit Five can't terminate drivers until an administrative judge weighs in on the matter next month in Springfield.
Unit Five Superintendent Gary Niehaus says the district currently needs more drivers for routes next fall.
He hopes First Student will continue hiring employees to fill the fleet.
"Nothing in the order prevented First Student from continuing to hire drivers," said Niehaus. "So they have 25. We're going to ask them to beef that up and get them where they need to go."
The AFSCME Union Representing the district's current bus drivers and monitors says it's happy workers will remain protected.
"Their rights have been violated," said AFSCME Council 31 Representative Renee Nestler. "We believe the efforts in outsourcing have been a retaliating act for them voting in the union last fall."
Unit Five plans to appeal the decision.
The matter heads back to court August 20th.
Unit Five starts school August 22nd.
Unit Five wants to hire a private company to take care of its bus service.
But the union representing Unit Five's current bus drivers is fighting back.
It asked a judge to block the move.
Wednesday a judge did that, and said Unit Five can't terminate drivers until an administrative judge weighs in on the matter next month in Springfield.
Unit Five Superintendent Gary Niehaus says the district currently needs more drivers for routes next fall.
He hopes First Student will continue hiring employees to fill the fleet.
"Nothing in the order prevented First Student from continuing to hire drivers," said Niehaus. "So they have 25. We're going to ask them to beef that up and get them where they need to go."
The AFSCME Union Representing the district's current bus drivers and monitors says it's happy workers will remain protected.
"Their rights have been violated," said AFSCME Council 31 Representative Renee Nestler. "We believe the efforts in outsourcing have been a retaliating act for them voting in the union last fall."
Unit Five plans to appeal the decision.
The matter heads back to court August 20th.
Unit Five starts school August 22nd.
