Four Transport Workers Union of America AFL-CIO bus drivers filed a suit in 2005, lawsuit settled

[Omaha Steve]

http://metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=1993101074452415&ShowArticle_ID=11001109070756767

Issue #19.07 :: 09/12/2007 - 09/18/2007
Lawsuit settled

BY ANGEL CLEARY

COLUMBIA COUNTY, GA - The Columbia County Board of Education tentatively passed a new policy that will give auxiliary employees the chance to have a board hearing if their jobs are terminated.

The decision to change the policy came out of a lawsuit that the board settled on June 19.

Four Transport Workers Union of America AFL-CIO bus drivers filed a suit in 2005, claiming they were never given the “opportunity to speak about certain concerns, including safety concerns and workplace discrimination, at public meetings of the Board.” The plaintiffs agreed to withdraw their suit and the board denied all allegations.

One driver retained her employment with the school district and the three other employees regained theirs.

Even though the board denied allegations that “union members’ due process rights were impaired by a lack of procedures of forums to address valid complaints or grievances of employees in the Transportation Department,” in the settlement they agreed to expand a grievance policy GAE-1 because it was “in the best interest of all parties and employees.”

When facing a job termination or forced resignation, any classified employee with 24 months of continuous service can appeal to the Board of Education, prior to the final board decision to end that employee’s contract.

The board was scheduled to give the final approval at their Sept. 11 meeting, where they would determine if the entire board, or the chairman alone, should decide whether an employee’s case will be heard.