RICHMOND, Va. –The union representing Richmond school bus drivers is still negotiating terms of workers’ contracts that would be accepted by the school board. The disagreements come as the controversy surrounding overtime pay for transportation workers remains partially unresolved.
In a presentation to school board members Monday, Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox presented some of the challenges for RPS bus drivers, including that most work eight-hour shifts per week, but many drivers take extra shifts for field trips, after school activities and programs, and Technical Center runs.
Currently, operators receive two hours in overtime pay for the first run after school, then four hours in OT for the next run, and six hours in OT for the following run.
Five potential solutions have been presented to the board, including:
- Option 1: OT only for bus drivers who work over 40 hours
- Option 2: Same as option #1 with increase pay of $3/hour
- Option 3: 2 hours of OT for each afternoon run
- Option 4: Same as option #3 with increase pay of $3/hour
- Option5: Maintain status quo