DPS bus drivers not optimistic; among 4 unions without contracts

Two years after a near-strike, Dayton’s school bus drivers are in another tough contract negotiation.

Two years after a near-strike, Dayton’s school bus drivers are in another tough contract negotiation.
Dayton
By
Dec 20, 2017
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Dayton Public Schools’ long, painful contract fight with its teachers got tons of attention, but four of the school district’s other unions are still working under the terms of expired contracts four months after the school year began.

Most school districts have two union bargaining units – one for teachers and one for “classified staff” such as secretaries, bus drivers and cafeteria workers. But Dayton Public Schools has a total of 11 different union groups, and all but the teachers began this school year working under the terms of contracts that expired in June.

RELATED: Dayton improves longtime busing issues

On Tuesday, the school board ratified its seventh union contract of the fall — for paraprofessionals, or aides – coming on the heels of deals for security officers, psychologists and others.

That leaves four units still working under the terms of expired contracts, according to DPS attorney Jyllian Bradshaw – bus drivers, mechanics, clerical workers and building trades workers.

Titus Morrow, president of Dayton’s bus drivers union, addressed the school board Tuesday with complaints about the district’s discipline process, communication with principals, and about drivers being “belittled” by administrators.

RELATED: Teachers ratify contract, vote no confidence

When Board President Robert Walker asked Morrow to wrap up his comments, Morrow suggested that the school board was not getting a full picture of drivers’ concerns. He pushed for a meeting, and Walker said a few board members would make time to meet with him, along with DPS’ attorney.

Morrow said he was not optimistic about ongoing contract negotiations, calling the process “touch and go,” but said the 145-member drivers union had not voted on any type of strike notice.

Bradshaw said negotiations with drivers were ongoing, but would not comment when asked if the sides had reached impasse.

2015 STORY: Bus drivers, DPS narrowly avoid strike

In April 2015, DPS and its bus drivers averted a strike with 10 hours to spare, reaching the two-year contract agreement that expired in June.

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New contracts reached (all through June 2020 except teachers)

Dayton Education Association (teachers) through June 2019

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 643 (paraprofessionals)

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 191 (mental health technicians, occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants)

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 766 (interpreters)

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 766B (psychologists)

AFSCME Dayton Public Service Union, Operations Local 101 (custodians, food service workers, truck drivers)

AFSCME Dayton Public Service Union, Local 101 (security resource officers)

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Working under expired contracts

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 627 (bus drivers)

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 156 (mechanics)

Dayton Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO

Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 158 (clerical workers)

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Jeremy Kelley is the assistant news editor for the Dayton Daily News. Jeremy is a Cincinnati native and has lived in the Dayton area for 30-plus years.