School Bus Drivers Go on Strike

MT. CLEMENS, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) - Getting to and from school on Tuesday could be tricky for hundreds of students in Macomb County. Striking drivers are putting the brakes on bus service.

The superintendent for Mount Clemens Schools confirms that there will be school on Tuesday. However, parents will have to find another way to get their kids to class.

"There's no busses at all for the kids," said parent Tonia Reynolds. "So... a lot of the parents don't even know how the kids are going to get back and forth to school."

Reynolds, a parent to two kids in Mount Clemens Schools, shares her frustration after learning bus drivers walked off the job Monday afternoon.

A driver tells FOX 2 the major sticking point for them is a wage increase that's between a dollar and $1.50 per hour based on seniority.

However, the superintendent for the district says they're not the ones involved in this conflict. The district contracts their drivers with a company called First Student, and they're the ones from which the union wants more.

"It's absolutely terrible to not have bus service even for one day," said Superintendent Charles Muncatchy.

In a statement to FOX 2, a spokesperson for First Student says, "We presented a new offer to union reps, including a wage increase over three years of fair market value, but it was rejected. We are extremely disappointed the union chose to strike in Mount Clemens. Not only does it show complete disregard for our ongoing negotiations, but it also puts severe pressure on parents who's children are transported to school."

The superintendent tells us replacement drivers will be trained on Tuesday and driving kids to and from school starting Wednesday. He adds that their contract with First Student will also be up for review.

"I feel like the bus drivers (are) wrong, and I believe they walked out at the wrong time. Just before the kids got out of school, that wasn't a good time to walk out," Reynolds said.

A bus driver we spoke with over the phone says the last thing they wanted to do was walk off the job, but it was important and something they had to do in order to send a message.