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Baltimore County school bus drivers share concerns about misconduct

Drivers say they are underpaid, overworked
Posted at 11:25 PM, Sep 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-26 15:45:13-04

Life for a bus driver in Baltimore County has turned into a bumpy one.

Many are saying that they are forced to work long hours for low wages in rough conditions.

A group of Baltimore County bus drivers took their concerns to the School Board meeting demanding that transportation be put on the agenda.

“It is not okay to take a subordinate employee under false pretenses to a strip club for lunch to humiliate that employee. Then retaliation and cover up when an employee reports this. The fox is guarding the hen house.”

Allegations by current and former drivers of misconduct by supervisors.

“Transportation employees have last moral, motivation, respect. Quite honestly effectively those in transportation management have relinquished and invalidated the authority of their positions.”

Complaints about a system called route finder that they say falsify their hours worked. It actually causes them to work 10-12 hours without a break and overtime pay.

“It’s not taking into factor red lights, accidents and all other stuff. A computer can’t think so everyone’s runs are coming off their computers which their not right. The timing isn’t right and that’s what their getting paid for,” said Denise Keller, Retired Baltimore County driver.

Administration encouraging the bus drivers to continue to communicate, even lauding a good start to the year in terms of transportation.

“We’ve had an outstanding start to our school year. Our calls as it relates to transportation are down 30 percent and we’re excited about that. Certainly, the concerns that were expressed tonight we will investigate and follow up with the superintendent on those matters,” said Kevin Smith, Chief Administrator, and Operations Officer Baltimore County Schools.

The drivers are feeling their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

“Most of us think about leaving. That’s the bottom line it’s like do we want to continue working for these people. You want to be subject to harassment by a supervisor and it gets covered up by his supervisor. Even when I send a letter to Verletta White nothing gets done. Are they the untouchables? It looks like it,” said Michael Fahey, Union President, and bus driver.

The bus drivers are calling for higher wages compared to their $16 an hour.