Around 100 Rockford Public Schools bus drivers picketed in front of the district’s bus terminal at 2000 Christina Street.
They chanted: “No Green, No Yellow,” warning of a possible strike if contract negotiations continue to drag on between the district and AFSCME. The main sticking points include requests for higher wages and concern over employee contributions to health insurance.
The Rockford Register-Star reports bus drivers have never gone on strike in their union’s 31-year history. Such a strike could leave 18,000 students without rides to school. District officials didn’t comment on contingency plans in case the union does strike.
Negotiations between AFSCME and Rockford Public Schools continue today with the assistance of a federal mediator.
