As bus workers strike, service issues deepen
Call for safety, pay hike; nearly half of 90 routes go uncovered early Monday
Annapolis Bus Company failed to provide service Monday morning for nearly half of the 90 routes it is contracted to run for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, with the issue of staffing shortages compounded by a strike workers held seeking safety, better pay and benefits.
A video on social media shows workers Monday morning holding signs about bus safety, student safety, fair pay increases and benefits. Workers talk about issues like school bus safety and the need for a barrier between the back of the driver’s seat and students, so they aren’t surprised or struck from behind when driving.
A number of routes have been without service since the start of the school year, as multiple contractors in the region have struggled to fill drivers’ seats amid a national shortage of workers with commercial driver’s licenses.
Annapolis Bus Company and other contractors had reported their expected bus shortfalls headed into the week, with the company expecting at least nine routes to be affected by the shortage.
The strike Monday morning meant an additional 31 buses without service in the morning, eight of which had service restored by the afternoon.
“This is an issue between Annapolis Bus Company and its drivers,” Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said. “Our students and our families are caught in the middle.”
Mosier said the system is talking to the company.
Student Transportation of America, which owns Annapolis Bus Company, said in a statement Monday that it is working to quickly fix the problem.
“On Monday, October 4, 2021, we
became aware of some drivers refusing to transport our local students,” STA Public and Media Relations Director Jen Holzapfel said in an email.
Holzapfel did not answer questions about how much drivers earn and any changes to their workload.
Looking at all contractors, more than 40 routes were without service Monday afternoon.
County Executive Steuart Pittman
“[Bus drivers] are paid less — in some cases, far less — than most CDL drivers. This is a job that needs and deserves a living wage and benefits.”
— Steuart Pittman, county executive
Monday said the county is developing a plan to spend federal money allocated to the county or school system to pay school bus drivers more.
“They are paid less - in some cases, far less - than most CDL drivers. This is a job that needs and deserves a living wage and benefits,” Pittman said.
The disruption for students and parents is too much to accept, he said. He said he has met with the governor, bus companies, economic and workforce development and state leaders to discuss the bus issue.
“The message is the same as the one coming from our drivers. These jobs don’t attract enough applicants because they don’t pay enough,” Pittman said.
Pittman also plans on having a virtual discussion with drivers, to be live-streamed on social media. Interested drivers should contact his office at countyexecutive@ aacounty.org.