Alaska Bus Drivers Strike: Week 3, Negotiations Resume

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Anchorage News Today. School bus drivers in Alaska's Matanuskas to Setna Burrow are heading into week three of their strike against Durham School Services. The teamster's local 959 represents the drivers who handle busing for the local district under a 10-year contract. Negotiations pick back up this Tuesday and Wednesday after a long pause. Talks first started last June, but has been eight weeks since both sides last met at the table. The union's top worry centers on fleet maintenance, including failed break inspections and even a driver's seat that burned from bad wiring, where? They claim drivers were told to just cover it up and keep going. Strikers have faced a big hit with their health insurance getting cancelled under Durham's plan. Some only learned about it at emergency rooms or doctors offices. Meanwhile, the company says coverage stays active for employees who kept working and paid their shares. Union political coordinator Patrick Fitzgerald says, morale remains strong among the drivers and they're eager to wrap this up and get back on routes.

1:04For the rest of the school year, Durham's team says they're ready for good faith bargaining over the next two days. Fitzgerald hopes the meetings lead to real progress and wants the company's reps to stick around Alaska, past March 18th, instead of heading back to the lower 48 until there's a full agreement in place. D&N is sponsored by our partner. Check out the episode description. Some travel miles to find peace. I just climb into bed and listen. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com