Roughly 45 school bus drivers and monitors for Marlborough Public Schools went on strike as of Wednesday morning.
Teamsters Local 170 said in a statement that they notified the school districts that the “hard-working, dedicated” drivers and monitors working for NRT Bus, the North Reading-based company that holds the contract for school bus services in Marlborough, would not report to work.
Jim Marks, a business agent for Teamsters Local 170, said the strike comes after NRT bus has given the Teamsters “a last and final that falls far short” of what employees need to ensure they have access to affordable healthcare.
“We all know which way healthcare is going in this country,” said Marks. “It’s important to make sure that we get these guys a good healthcare plan, not only that they can utilize, but at the same time they can rely on the coverage that they have without having that big bill.”
The union has been in a months-long contract negotiation with NRT bus until Friday, when Marks said the company walked out of a bargaining session.
“We chose to go to work on Tuesday despite not having a contract and hoping that we could get the dialog going and get it wrapped up,” he said. “But once again, they just refused to sit down and talk and negotiate.”
Marks said one the main sticking points of the negotiations have been benefits, specifically healthcare.
“Right now, they don’t have much of an offer for health insurance at a 60-40 split,” he said. “All these drivers and monitors worry about if they have to take their family to the doctor, whether they’re going to be facing a $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000 bill at the end of that.”
Marks said the union is also looking for an increase in retirement benefits.
How long the strike goes on depends on when NRT Bus is ready to return to the bargaining table, said Marks.
“We’re hoping to get the drivers back to doing what they love, transporting our most precious cargo, other people’s children, and obviously, get an agreement that the company can live with and the drivers can live with that offers affordable health care,” he said.
In the meantime, Marlborough Public Schools has brought in replacement drivers, as previously reported by WCVB.
According to state data, there are 4,360 students in the district, and most of them (more than 3,300) take the bus.
“We are hopeful that NRT and the Teamsters will reach a speedy agreement. In the meantime, we are working to ensure minimal disruption to our students and families,” Marlborough Public Schools Superintendent Jason DeFalco said in a statement. “While they work out the details of their successor contract, our focus in Marlborough Public Schools remains steadfast on our students.”
Scott Sheridan, senior vice president of operations for NRT Bus, said the company has been negotiating with Teamsters Local 170 for “over two months.”
“Our latest offer reflects what we can responsibly sustain, while providing fair raises and maintaining strong benefits for drivers,” he said. “Despite reaching a tentative agreement this weekend, the union reversed course and decided to go on strike. We are deeply disappointed in their decision, which unfairly creates uncertainty for our students, families and the school district.”
