Unit 5 dismisses its remaining school bus drivers and monitors

June 12--NORMAL -- The McLean County Unit 5 school board voted Wednesday to dismiss 56 drivers and bus monitors still employed by the district after its disputed decision to outsource busing services.

The passage as an item on the board's consent agenda without board discussion drew repeated shouts of "Shame on you" from many of the 50 or more transportation workers in the audience.

Unit 5 hired First Student Inc. to take over busing in May 2012. While some drivers and monitors became First Student employees, others remained on the Unit 5 payroll under First Student supervision while their union waged a legal battle against the outsourcing.

The board's action follows a 4th District Appellate Court opinion filed last week that sided with the district in the dispute with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The ruling reversed the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board's earlier order compelling the district to cancel its outsourcing contract and resume negotiating a labor contract with AFSCME.

During the public comments, AFSCME Council 31 Regional Director Kent Beauchamp told the board the union's attorney believes the move was premature and illegal because appeals had not been exhausted.

Both AFSCME and the labor board are entitled to petition for a rehearing by the appellate court within 21 days of the appellate court's decision and to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court within 35 days after any denial of a petition for rehearing, according to AFSCME.

"Dismissing our members is just the wrong thing to do," Beauchamp added. "Many of our members have worked for Unit 5 for many years and served loyally for many years under difficult decisions. It would reflect badly on Unit 5 as an employer to just dismiss these people."

"My heart is heavy today. I am very disappointed that your decision was to terminate our jobs," Charita M. Jeffery, a Unit 5 bus monitor for six years, told the board. "I was very proud to say I worked for McLean County District Unit 5."

The workers will be paid through July 31 and receive insurance coverage through Sept. 30, said Superintendent Gary Niehaus.

The drivers and monitors are not guaranteed employment with First Student.

"They will have to apply just like the others did," Niehaus said. "They will have to meet First Student's requirements, but we think the majority will be able to be hired by First Student."

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