Local 179 Suspending Strike Against Minooka School Districts

MINOOKA, IL — The Teamsters Local 179 is suspending its strike against Minooka Community School Districts 111 and 201. Striking drivers and aides will return to work immediately.

According to a news release from Local 179, the union met for several hours with school district management Aug. 24.

“It has become patently clear that the Districts have no intention of reaching any kind of agreement for the bus drivers, let alone a fair agreement,” said Local 179 in a news release. “District management has engaged in classic bad faith bargaining tactics designed to avoid an agreement rather than reach an agreement. To avoid further conflict and end the strike, the Union even proposed to allow disputed provisions in the contract to be resolved by an arbitrator. The Districts refused, apparently satisfied with cutting students’ class time and requiring kids to spend excessive time on hot over-crowded buses.”

MInooka District 111 Superintendent Kenny Lee said in an email to parents that the districts will not “abdicate their responsibilities to the taxpayers and students of the community and cede authority to a third party.”

Negotiations will resume Friday, Sept. 9.

Local 179 said it will be addressing the Districts’ “bad faith” in the proper legal forum.

“This legal process is not only going to be very expensive but also very long and complicated. Given these circumstances, it would be an extreme and unfair burden on the Districts’ Teamster employees, students, and community for the Teamster employees to continue their strike at this time,” Local 179 said.

As a result, the teamsters are suspending the strike and directing their supporters to return to work immediately, pending the outcome of the legal process and/or when a resumption of the strike is necessary.

The districts will ask the Teamsters to provide advance notice of any future strike during the mediation process in order to avoid disruption to our parents and students.

“We remain committed to the negotiation and mediation process, and hope the Teamsters will join us in that commitment. Although the strike has been suspended, the Districts will continue to utilize the adjusted bell schedules currently in place and previously communicated with families for the remainder of this week,” Lee said in the email. “The Districts will communicate with families by the end of the week what our plans are for next week.”