Battle is heating up between union school bus drivers and RGRTA
By: WROC-TV
Updated: August 1, 2007
The battle is heating up between union school bus drivers and the RGRTA. At the center of this battle is the ride to school for thousands of Rochester city school kids. The UFCW union representing Laidlaw bus drivers is vowing to fight any move by the RGRTA to reverse a decision by the Federal Transit Adminstration. On Tuesday, the FTA reversed it's policy saying RTS buses were being used improperly as school buses. The ruling follows complaints filed by Laidlaw's union bus drivers. However the school dstrict stated on Tuesday students will continue to use RTS buses this fall. The union says that's illegal. "This is an uphill battle to say the least, the FTA will be represented by a lawyer from the Department of Justice who will vigorously defend the FTA decision. The local union together with Laidlaw will have joint counsel at any federal hearing," says Greg gorea with ufcw local one This matter is far from settled. The RGRTA is expected to file for an injunction sometime this week. Members of the UFCW bus union say they are out $1.2 million because public buses are being improperly used as school buses.
