About 280 school bus drivers in Tennessee, concerned by compensation and insurance costs, are asking the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board to recognize them as members of the United Steelworkers.

So far, the school board has refused to accept the Union, saying the drivers are considered state employees and therefore do not qualify for collective bargaining rights. This appears to be in direct conflict with the fact that metro bus drivers in Nashville recently organized with the assistance of the USW.

One of the key isses, drivers say, is that the school board does not take into account the time spent cleaning and inspecting buses. They feel they are not being fully compensated for their time. The reduced number of work hours keeps them from gaining affordable health insurance.

Drivers say they hope to get the school board to recognize the union and then use their collective bargaining power to earn full-time status with full-time benefits.

 For more information, contact the USW at (877) 511-8792

For an Organizing Contact Request Form, click HERE.