Valley View, Bus Drivers Reach Agreement

bus drivers agreed to a three-year pay freeze and an across-the-board 75-cent per hour pay cut in exchange for keeping transportation in house.

Board of education members agreed to reject all proposals submitted by private bus companies, including frontrunner Durham School Services, and finalize a deal with members of  American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3057 before the union’s current contract expires June 30.

Citing state funding decreases and a dwindling transportation fund, district officials had estimated that outsourcing could save Valley View $850,000 per year. 

Determined to keep busing within the district, bus drivers worked to craft a proposal to compete with the package offered by Durham.

“Now, by giving up 75 cents, we’re still here,” said union president Jim Canady. “For the most part, everyone is really happy.”

The average wage for a driver in Valley View is $20.75 per hour, according to union staff representative Flo Estes. Under Durham’s plan, that would have fallen to $18 per hour, she noted.

After six round of negotiations, the union’s proposal “would seem to close the gap enough that it makes sense for the district to maintain the transportation services for the district in-house,” Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Gary Grizaffi said.

In addition to the across-the-board pay cuts, the union agreed to reduce the starting wage for new drivers from $20 to $14 per hour. Other concessions include the elimination of sick leave conversion and three paid holidays, saving the district $850,000 each year for the next three years.

“This contract allows us to keep the bus service in house and reduce our costs by over $2.5 million over the next three years,” board president Steve Quigley said. He praised Canady for his role in the negotiations.

“He is a gentleman who truly cares about the children, his fellow drivers, the district and community.”

Vice president Rick Gougis, who had tough questions for union reps during a Jan. 23 board meeting, praised drivers for working with the district to help cut costs.

“The State of Illinois is cutting millions of dollars from our transportation fund and the drivers stepped up and did what was best for the district and our kids,” he said, echoing union reps who pointed out that drivers’ wages are only part of the picture when it comes to transportation costs.

Also factoring into the budget are maintenance costs and administrative salaries.

“The drivers shouldn’t be asked to carry all of this,” Gougis said.

Estes said the deal will not impact bus monitors, who are also part of the union. Average pay for that position is $13.50 per hour, allowing little room for concessions.

“That wouldn’t be a living wage,” if it were reduced, Estes said.

By taking the pay cut and remaining Valley View employees, bus drivers will retain their guaranteed retirement fund that pays out at a rate of 11.8 percent, versus the 401K offered by Durham that would allow contributions of  percent of each driver’s wages.

“You can’t compare those,” Canady said.

Estes believes the deal will also benefit parents and students by keeping experienced drivers behind the wheel.

Many parents—in particular parents with children who have special needs—were concerned about the possibility that unfamiliar drivers would be responsible for their child's transportation.

“They were very concerned that the bus drivers transporting their children were familiar faces,” Estes said. “It’s very important.”

Once finalized, the new three-year pact with the union will take effect in July.

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