District 300 bus drivers file labor complaint

Community Unit District 300 bus drivers have filed an unfair labor practice complaint against their employer, Durham School Services, a union official said this week.

Unfair labor practice complaints are standard recourse for employees who feel they have been treated unfairly.

"Durham basically wasn't wanting to recognize the union that came in … and so they weren't bargaining with them in good faith," said Diane Petersen, director of Region 25 for UniServ, the union that represents District 300 teachers.

The complaint was filed "as a result of their unwillingness to negotiate with the group," Petersen said.

More than a dozen Durham employees held an informational picket Feb. 15 to pressure their employer into negotiating.

Another picket scheduled for Monday was canceled because of the snowstorm.

A Durham spokeswoman said the transportation firm has complied with all labor regulations.

"There have been no findings that Durham School Services has in any way violated the National Labor Relations Act or the rights of our employees," spokeswoman Tiffini Bloniarz wrote in an e-mail.

She said Durham is waiting for the labor relations board to rule on the matter.

Bloniarz said it has been difficult for Durham to negotiate with its workers because two different unions -- the Illinois Education Association and the Teamsters -- are competing to represent the employees.

She said Durham is waiting for the labor relations board to rule on which union should represent the workers and when negotiations should begin.

Bloniarz also disputed that Durham has fought its employees' efforts to unionize.

"We recognize an employee's right to form a union of their choice," Bloniarz said.

Petersen said the Teamsters have also had discussions with bus drivers but asserted that UniServ, the local chapter of the Illinois Education Association, is the group that rightfully represents the bus drivers.

The Teamsters could not be reached for comment.

Petersen said the National Labor Relations Board has found merit in the drivers' complaint and that Durham is just using the competition between UniServ and the Teamsters to shift focus away from their labor practices.

The National Labor Relations Board could not be reached for comment.

A hearing on the unfair labor practice complaint is scheduled for May, Petersen said.