501 bus drivers fight for right to form union in Topeka

Matthew Self
·2 min read
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501 bus drivers fight for right to form union in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) – A group of workers for Topeka 501 are pushing for the right to unionize this week.

The union would consist of special education bus drivers and the paras who help USD 501 students wither their school bus transportation. Teamsters Local 696 spokesman Matthew Hall says workers first brought their concerns forward in November 2023.

“Lack of respect at their workplace, lack of wages and a lack of pay at their workplace as well,” Hall said. “There wages have been stagnant and low in this industry. We’re waiting on a response from the school board. we hope they make the right decision. We hope they extend the same rights that the city workers in Topeka have, Shawnee county workers, state workers as well.”

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The USD 501 School Board met Thursday, April 4 to address the unionization but no confirmed decision was made on how to proceed. 27 News has reached out to the USD 501 School Board and the district for comment but has yet to receive a response.

“Topeka bus workers deserve to organize and collectively bargain for fair wages, safe working
conditions, and better benefits,” Hall said in a press release on April 5. “These workers are simply asking for the same rights as workers have in the City of Topeka and Shawnee County. We appreciate the opportunity to make the case to the school board about why Topeka bus workers should be able to decide on union representation—and we urge the school board to act swiftly in granting them that right.”

Teamsters Local 696 represents workers in northern Kansas including UPS workers, public employees, school bus drivers, sanitation workers and more. The organization’s website can be found by clicking here.

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