Bus drivers may go on strike May 8

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

REGION – Schools in Westborough, Marlborough and Framingham are bracing for a possible strike by school bus drivers next week.

According to a Facebook post, Teamsters Local 170, the union representing the drivers, issued a 10-day notice to the three school districts on Thursday, April 27.

“Teamsters Local 170 issued a strike notice to their vendor, NRT Bus, that on May 8th we plan to strike if a contract has not been reached,” according to the post. “These 150 drivers reached out to Teamsters Local 170 and overwhelmingly voted for us to represent them.”

The local said that “after more than 41 negotiation sessions with NRT and very little movement by the company, long caucuses, which resulted in no movement, we made the decision to issue a strike notice.”

Local 170 added that they will continue to negotiate with NRT Bus through Sunday, May 7.

“While we respect our employees’ federally protected right to strike, we are extremely saddened that the Teamsters are considering moving forward with a strike, particularly given the progress that we’ve made in our collective bargaining discussions over the last few months,” said a spokesperson for NRT Bus on Sunday, April 30.

“Since January 2023, NRT has actively and respectfully negotiated in good faith with the union, and this includes attending every meeting and remaining in discussion for as long as requested. We are deeply committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is supportive of our drivers and the communities that rely on us to provide safe and reliable transportation for the children in our care.

“We remain optimistic that we will reach a fair and mutually agreeable resolution.”

Mary Murphy, the superintendent for Marlborough Public Schools, said the district received the notice from the Teamsters on Friday, April 28.

“We shared that this potential strike comes from the inability for Teamsters Local 170 Union, who represent Marl- borough bus drivers, and North Reading Transportation, who employ the bus drivers, to suc- cessfully negotiate a contract. This is a labor matter between the two parties that the Marlborough Public Schools has no control over.”

Members of Teamsters Local 170 and their supporters held an informational picket in Marlborough in April.

Murphy also described the impact a strike could have on the district.

“If the strike materializes, the impact to our students will be significant. We normally transport up to 3,800 students daily, many of whom have no alternative transportation option to school and every minute in school is valuable. Additionally, many of our students rely on services provided at school including daily breakfast and lunch.”

She said the district is creating plans to “minimize the impact,” and hoped that NRT and the drivers can reach a settlement before the deadline.

A letter sent to Westborough Public Schools Superintendent Amber Bock advised of the “likely” strike, and the disruptions it may cause.

Drivers held informational pickets in Westborough and Marlborough over the past couple of months in an effort to raise awareness about ongoing negotiations.

Among the top issues — wages, benefits, and the way NRT determines where drivers are assigned, and for how long.

YMCA honors BORO Program with diversity award

WESTBOROUGH – Students of the BORO Program have been volunteering at the YMCA Boroughs Family branch since the fall of 2021 under the supervision of Slader Lyell, senior experience director for the branch.

The opportunity to engage in the various work tasks that the YMCA has to offer has allowed these students to transfer skills learned in the BORO Sugar Shack to other vocational environments, and it has also provided them the opportunity to regularly socialize with other members of their home community. In recognition of the work that BORO students have done, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts awarded the BORO Program its award for 2023 Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Volunteer of the Year at its 159th annual meeting and volunteer recognition event on April 26.

Accepting the award on behalf of the BORO Program and the Westborough Public Schools were current student volunteers Lydia Ferreira, Hunter Tompkins and Pranav Hariharan, as well as BORO special education teacher Angelina McCarthy and BORO Program Director Erin LaPrad.