Listen Live
PraiseIndy Featured Video
CLOSE

In a surprise interview on Afternoons with Amos, the President of the union that represents the IPS School Bus drivers that walked off the job this past Friday, told their story for the first time to any Indianapolis media.  Gregitte Yancey, President of AFSCME Local #3826 told the drivers’ side of the story. Last Friday (Aug 17) scores of IPS bus drivers who drive for IPS through a contract with Durham School Services walked off the job just before picking students up from their schools to return them home.  The wildcat walkout created a firestorm of anger with IPS officials and IPS parents and the community. But speaking with Amos, drivers expressed a number of grievances. Many of which stem from a law passed this year that eliminated the ability of school bus drivers and other “seasonal” workers from collecting unemployment during the weeks they’re off work. Yancey and other drivers who called the program said that drivers filed for unemployment in good faith, thinking they were covered and that the state had OK’d the unemployment.  Now the State’s sent letters asking for repayment.  Yancey and others also talked about errors the company, Durham Student Services may have made that exacerbated the problem. Besides Yancey and drivers and listeners, State Representative Bill Crawford and civil rights attorney Rod Bohannon explained the changes to state unemployment law and some of the larger issues at stake.

Click Arrow to Hear Amos’ Interview with Bus Drivers Union President Grigette Yancey. Runs 11 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One.

Click Arrow to Hear Community Reaction to IPS Bus Drivers Walkout. Runs 43 Minutes ©2012 WTLC/Radio One