BCS bus drivers demand higher pay over new sign-on bonuses
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Some bus drivers with Brunswick County Schools say they aren’t getting paid enough. That’s because of a newly competitive pay rates and a sign-on bonus offered to new drivers.
New bus drivers in the district are offered a $2,500 sign-on bonus, and $19 per hour. Meanwhile, some bus drivers already working for the district say they only make $17 per hour.
On Thursday, district leaders held a meeting with bus drivers to work out a resolution.
Maryland Holmes was there and says drivers did not get the demands they wanted. She says the district offered to give a $2 per hour raise, but that raise is only given if drivers have perfect attendance during an allotted period.
“They give the teachers raises, but they can miss a day and still get the same pay, and that’s not right. Some of them bus drivers dedicate their lives to driving the bus,” Holmes said.
WWAY reached out to central office for comment. Superintendent Dale Cole sent a statement that reads:
“Brunswick County Schools values all of our employees. They are all essential in our pursuit of maximizing student learning outcomes in our school district. Specific to bus drivers, we have raised their salaries over 19% since 2021. We pay our veteran drivers the highest driver salaries in the southeast region. Two years ago, we also provided a perfect attendance bonus that was paid out twice per year. This year we changed that bonus to be paid out every pay period to make it easier to earn, which resulted in the district almost doubling the amount of bonuses to drivers this year, and this was a good thing for them and us. Beginning next year, our BOE has approved a new perfect attendance bonus structure. Any driver that has perfect attendance for the ten-day pay period will receive their normal hourly salary plus $2 extra per hour. Our veteran drivers are already paid the highest hourly salary in the southeast region. If they have perfect attendance next year, it won’t even be close. From a first year driver to a driver with 30+ years of experience, they will all receive the highest salaries in the region in any pay period in which they have perfect attendance.
We also want to build our available substitute driver list so that our Teacher Assistants don’t have to drive buses as much. As a result, our BOE approved 8 new regional sub driver positions to cover for drivers when they are out without impacting classroom instructional supports. We want to fill these jobs as quickly as possible, so we are offering a $2500 signing bonus to any new employees that come to us with all certifications needed to immediately begin driving. We want to have these jobs filled by August, and this is a solution aimed at that specific goal. I feel the actions of this BOE make it clear that they value our bus drivers, and I am sure that most of our drivers feel valued as well.”
WWAY also received a letter bus drivers sent to district leaders that reads:
“To whom it may concern,
We the Brunswick County School Bus Drivers,
We are standing together as a unit. No union. No spokesperson. No middle man. Simply as drivers. It’s is imperative that each driver realizes that NC is an at WILL state. Even if you are expressing your constitutional right of Freedom of Speech!
We the entire Brunswick County Bus Driver Community request to meet with the entire School Board and the Superintendent, to discuss our concerns and come to a meaningful solution.
Key Points Of Meeting:
1. New drivers are receiving a $2,500 sign on bonus along with the $2/hr incentive.
(Which is NOT fair)
2. Seasoned Drivers are only receiving $2/hr but that $2 DOES NOT include (Teacher Workdays, Inclement Weather Days)
So the $2 is NOT implemented the correct way in regard to the promise of them giving us an adequate raise.
3. We need to express that it’s not fair and it’s NOT the way to say that THE DISTRICT appreciates its current drivers. Not only are we underpaid, but we are not included in major changes, meetings or decision making. I.e board meetings are held during routes. Morning routes start anywhere between 5:30 in the mornings and doesn’t end until 9 in the morning. Most middays start at 930 and they run directly into regular hours which means most drivers don’t finish the day until 5 in the evening. Most board meetings are either held at 9 in the morning or at 5pm in the evenings when drivers are NOT off the clock to get to the meetings in a timely manner for their voices to be heard. We are not asking for a lot or coming to be argumentative we are asking to be treated HONEST & FAIRLY.
4. So WE the drivers are asking for do justice. That is tier 0-4 drivers receive a $500 bonus with a $2 RAISE!
Tier 5-10 receive a $1,000 bonus with a $2.50 pay raise. Tier 10+ receive $1,500 bonus with a $3.00 raise! (Tiers are the number of years that each driver has served as a bus driver) This is what we are asking and by all means what we deserve! And it’s definitely in the $2.5 Million Dollar budget.
Signed,
Brunswick County School Bus Drivers”
