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The WS/FCS bus drivers’ strike continues for a second week

As students across the Triad return to school Monday morning, many families will continue to face delays on their morning commute. 26 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County bus drivers called out, impacting 47 bus routes during morning trips. This is the second week people quit their jobs to fight for better pay and safer working conditions. The district prepared parents for further delays before Monday morning’s pickup. In a statement they said: “Due to the continued high number of bus driver absences, WS/FCS is asking all families to be able to take their children to and from school on Monday. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through this.” Given the difficult situation, county leaders continue to work aggressively toward the goals set Nov. 22 to address drivers’ concerns and get them back to work Monday . Bus drivers say they want to be heard. They say they have fought for years on issues like pay, and this time they will strike until something changes. The school district plans to implement new policies, more communication and other solutions to address drivers’ concerns. However, motorists said they would believe these claims if they were put into action. “It’s like telling my kids, ‘You can’t tell me anything,'” said WS/FCS bus driver Crystal Thompson. “You have to show me I can do better.” The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools bus drivers’ strike affected 20% of school bus routes across the county just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Thompson told WXII that more drivers could be added starting Monday. “This time they’re taking us seriously,” Thompson said. Thompson said they have received positive responses from many community members. “Preachers, teachers, other parents, just in general,” she said. “People I have never met before.” However, there was criticism of the strike and its impact on students. Kimberly Shouse, another driver, says they understand these challenges, but counters that drivers also face challenges. “If we drive and throw bottles, candy or other objects at them, we will be attacked,” she said. “I understand what they are saying, but they are not in our shoes. We will make our voices heard. We’re going to keep going until it’s done.” Thompson and Shouse said that while this isn’t the first time bus drivers have gathered to protest, they hope it will be the last.

As students across the Triad return to school Monday morning, many families will continue to face delays on their morning commute.

26 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County bus drivers called out, impacting 47 bus routes during morning trips.

This is the second week that drivers have quit their jobs to fight for better pay and safer working conditions. The district prepared parents for further delays before Monday morning’s pickup.

In a statement they said: “Due to the continued high number of bus driver absences, WS/FCS is asking all families to be able to take their children to and from school on Monday. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through this.” Given the difficult situation, county leaders continue to work aggressively toward the goals set Nov. 22 to address drivers’ concerns and get them back to work Monday .

Bus drivers say they want to be heard. They say they have fought for years on issues like pay, and this time they will continue to demonstrate until something changes.

The school district plans to implement new policies, more communication and other solutions to address drivers’ concerns.

However, motorists said they would believe these claims if they were put into action.

“It’s like telling my kids, ‘You can’t tell me anything,'” said WS/FCS bus driver Crystal Thompson. “You have to show me that I can do better.”

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools bus drivers’ strike impacted 20% of school bus routes across the county just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Thompson told WXII that more drivers could be added starting Monday.

“This time they’re taking us seriously,” Thompson said.

Thompson said they have received positive responses from many community members.

“Preachers, teachers, other parents, just in general,” she said. “People I’ve never met before.”

However, there was criticism of the strike and its impact on students. Kimberly Shouse, another driver, says they understand these challenges, but counters that drivers also face challenges.

“If we drive and throw bottles, candy or other objects at them, we will be attacked,” she said. “I understand what they are saying, but they are not in our shoes. We will make our voices heard. We’ll keep going until it’s done.”

Thompson and Shouse say that while this isn’t the first time bus drivers have gathered to protest, they hope it will be the last.

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