Why Dist. 300 bus drivers aren't happy

Bus drivers in Carpentersville Unit District 300 are unhappy with their employer, and they're letting school officials know it.

More than a dozen workers for Durham School Services, a national company contracted July 1 to take over the district's bus driving duties, held an informational picket outside the district's administration center Friday.

Bus driver Russ Harris said he and his colleagues were unhappy with Dunham's unwillingness to allow drivers to form a union of their own or even sit down and negotiate with the drivers for 60 days, a measure recommended by the National Labor Relations Board.

Harris said he and his co-workers wanted the school board to pressure Durham officials to work with the drivers. He stressed their picketing was being done on their own time and not disrupting service, but also acknowledged the drivers could strike.

"If things don't change and we don't get action from Durham, this is one of our alternatives," he said.

School Superintendent Kenneth Arndt could not be reached for comment Friday, nor could Durham representatives.

Last year, the District 300 school board voted against a new union contract with the bus drivers in favor of privatization.

Officials said the move would save more than $2.1 million in retirement benefits.