Bus Drivers Concerned Over Benefits
The Loudoun County School Board hear from over 80 people, on Monday, regarding their concerns over the potential loss of benefits.
More than 80 people signed up to speak in front of the Loudoun County School Board, on Monday, in regards to part-time employment benefits that are currently in question.
According to an article on the Loudoun Times, school board members have recently discussed cutting the benefits of part-time workers who put in 3.5-to-7 hours a day.
As a result, hundreds of drivers, both full-and part-time, attended Monday's meeting dressed in black and red to show their frustration. Everyone seemed to share the same sentiment over the potential loss of benefits, which many drivers said was the main reason they have taken jobs as drivers.
“Let’s keep in mind that the majority in this room are the people. In this world there are needs and wants. Benefits are needs. This board wants to take away the benefits of the bus drivers and others, that is a want, that is not a need,” explained Fran Lettington, a bus driver for LCPS for 10 years.
The Loudoun Times reported Tuesday that if the school board doesn't find a better alternative a majority of the bus drivers have threatened to walk out.
However, LCPS Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said no proposal has been announced.
“There is no real proposal on the bus drivers at this time, we just costed out what the School Board asked us to do,” Byard said.
Sarah
1:36 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Day in and Day out, these bus drivers put up with a lot! Let them keep their benefits!!!
joe brewer
11:47 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Part timers= no benefits!
Marcus Aurelius
12:25 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
TARGETING?
Bus drivers are hardworking, reliable members of Loudoun County Public Schools. They are entrusted with the safety of our children, everyday, often under challenging conditions. They are rigorously supervised and well trained. I think the new members of the LCPS Board of Education are right to examine the Superintendent's proposed budget, but picking on bus drivers is not the way to carry out their duties. I hope that their questions about benefits for part time employees are not targeting these humble workers who are so valuable to our families. Rather, the Board should state its support for these employees.
Jonathan Erickson
8:20 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Not picking on bus drivers. Anyone who works less then 32 hours should pay for their benefits and that includes the school board. Instead of giving unearned benefits to part time workers and their families how about making them earn the benefits instead. If you don't have the time for a full time job it's not on me or other taxpayers to provide welfare benefits to part timers.
Marcus Aurelius
2:15 am on Saturday, February 18, 2012
PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH, JONATHAN.
It is exceedingly unwise to reduce the quality of workers who transport your children to members of the working poor. Next you'll be suggesting that teachers should no longer need to be certified to teach, since that only restricts the access to a larger pool of workers. And next you'll be suggesting that education ought to be privatized so that businessmen can run it right.
Jonathan Erickson
12:44 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2012
Are you a soothsayer, warlock or maybe a witch since you can tell what suggestions that I am going to make if so gaze into your Chrystal ball and see if you can find the middle digit of the hand. I said not word one about reducing or eliminating qualifications or certifications necessary to drive school busses At the end of this school year the school bus drivers should be given notice that unless you work 32 hours a week you get no benefits. They then have a chance to find another job and we get to eliminate the drain and waste associated with providing benefits to people who do not earn them