Union: Bus Drivers Close to Finalizing Deal with VVSD

In a surprising twist following a  in which union members said they felt misled by Valley View officials, a deal between the district and its school bus drivers and monitors could be close at hand.

“I think we may be very close to an agreement that would help us keep [transportation] in house,” American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 31 staff representative Flo Estes said.

On Jan. 23, members of AFSCME Local 3057, which represents the drivers and monitors, offered up concessions in a bid to convince the district to abandon a proposal that would bring in an outside contractor to bus the district’s 11,000 students to school.

Citing a $5 million transportation fund deficit and ever-dwindling state funding, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Gary Grizaffi said the district over the life of a three-year contract by hiring Durham School Services to handle busing.

At the Jan. 23 meeting, Local 3057 present Jim Canady urged the board to reject the Woodridge-based company’s proposal and keep busing in house. Union members were prepared to offer concessions including a minimum one-year salary freeze, eliminating paid holidays and in-service days, and lowering the starting pay for new drivers from $20 to $14 per hour.

Despite the concessions, district officials said there was a $2.8 million difference between Durham’s proposal and what the union was offering.

Now, it appears that the two sides may be close to reaching a deal.

“We have talked to the district since the last meeting,” Estes said, saying she was optimistic that an agreement will be finalized Monday that will keep transportation in Valley View.

“We do feel encouraged,” Estes said, declining to offer details of the tentative agreement. “It’s kind of under wraps right now.”

Board present Steve Quigley was also mum on the specifics of the proposed pact, but confirmed that a deal may be reached that is beneficial to both the union and the district. 

Union: Durham safety report doesn’t tell the full story

The deal comes after an at times heated discussion between district officials and union reps.

Estes and Canady took exception questions posted by board vice present Rick Gougis, who said Valley View’s safety record compared unfavorably to Durham’s.

According to documents submitted by Durham, the company had zero accidents per million miles traveled in 2010-11, compared with Valley View’s 9.2 per millions miles.

But Estes said the documentation didn’t tell the full story, including non-accident incidents aboard Durham buses.

Estes cited a recent lawsuit filed against a West Dundee school district and Durham by parents who allege that their daughter, who has special needs, suffered a broken leg after being “kicked, pushed, hit and otherwise assaulted by other students on the bus.”

The union also believes Durham’s proposal violates Illinois school code, which dictates that any third party brought in to conduct non-instructional services must offer a benefits package comparable to those offered to school district employees who perform the same services.

“The bid that Durham School Services put in would represent a 40 percent reduction in benefits,” Estes said. “We would certainly be looking at that from a legal standpoint if [the district] did decide to privatize.”

Decision expected Monday

“I am very pleased with the way the conversation went,” Quigley said. “I can’t really say much more than that.

“I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised.”

Estes was confident an agreement will be reached at the Feb. 13 school board meeting.

“I fully expect a decision to be made on Monday night,” she said.

The board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the district administrative center, 755 Dalhart Ave. in Romeoville. 

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