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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Nearly 100 schoolhouse autobus routes were canceled successful Anne Arundel County Monday due to the fact that of a autobus operator strike.
The drivers with Annapolis Bus Company are demanding amended wage and benefits.
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Anne Arundel County Schools said 25 buses were not connected the roadworthy Monday greeting due to the fact that of the onslaught which impacted 98 routes.
The drivers archer WJZ they emotion their jobs and they privation to get backmost to work, but not until their demands are met. They held a protestation extracurricular the bureau of Annapolis Bus Company.
“We request to beryllium appreciated,” autobus operator Joyce Ndow said. “We request to beryllium understood. We’re professionals. We request to beryllium treated and paid similar professionals.”
They person written a database of demands that see amended wage and benefits. They’re besides disquieted astir COVID-19 precautions and information precautions successful general.
“A batch of attendants get physically wounded and injured by kids and we don’t person a argumentation for that,” autobus attendant Taaliyah Price said. “So, we’re conscionable expected to instrumentality it and endure it until we driblet the kids disconnected and prime them up.”
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Annapolis Bus Company is 1 of astir 15 autobus companies that person contracts with Anne Arundel County Schools.
The territory tells WJZ that Annapolis Bus Company has been having operator shortage issues precocious and that astatine slightest 12 of their buses bash not tally each day.
The institution that owns Annapolis Bus Company, Student Transportation of America, said it is successful interaction with the drivers and the schoolhouse territory and hopes to travel to a solution soon.
WJZ besides reached retired to the Office of the Anne Arundel County Executive who issued a connection that says successful part:
“Drivers, delight cognize that your employers are besides advocating for much funds successful their contracts to wage you more. And cognize that parents and kids admit what you do. We request you. We don’t privation to suffer you. We volition hole this.”
The schoolhouse territory tells WJZ that they anticipation the drivers volition instrumentality to enactment Tuesday.
Jessica Albert
Jessica Albert is an experienced broadcast writer and James Madison University postgraduate with a passionateness for covering section news. She comes to WJZ...More from Jessica Albert
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