200+ Connecticut school bus drivers could walk off job due to COVID-19 vaccine mandate

[left-of-center2012]

HARTFORD — More than 200 Connecticut school bus drivers could walk off the job Monday because they are unvaccinated and do not want to be tested for COVID-19, officials said Friday.

Monday is the deadline for vaccinations for school bus drivers - as well as state and school district employees — under an executive order by Gov. Ned Lamont as he seeks to stem the spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In a survey of drivers ... 227 drivers said that they are unvaccinated and would refuse the weekly tests, said Jean Cronin, the chief lobbyist for the transportation association. The number of unvaccinated drivers is even higher because only 12 of the 67 companies that are represented by the transportation association were surveyed recently due to time constraints. As such, the number of drivers who fail to show up Monday could be higher.

"A lot of drivers who have made up their mind that they don’t want to vaccinate and they don’t want to test. We are respectful of that," said Jon Hipsher, the vice president of the Connecticut School Transportation Association.

https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-school-bus-drivers-covid-20210924-d2cg5esikfd7fpjamed2r3qcpy-story.html

https://www.fox61.com/article/news/education/connecticut-school-transportation-crisis/520-b5232b6f-abd8-40aa-a485-0522195a3f23

[Midnight Writer]

1. I'd be interested in an update on Monday afternoon.

Talk is cheap.

I wish I had a donut for every co-worker I've heard say they were going to walk off the job.

[dsc]

17. so is school bus driver pay

The OP is CT so I am sure they make more than in my district but we just got to $15 an hour this year and bus driving is a part time job. The most ours make is $90 a day.

[Buns_of_Fire]

2. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3:

1. No vax;
2. No test;
3. No job.

[jpak]

3. Fire them

And no unemployment benefits for you

Yup

[jimfields33]

5. They can definitely fire them rightfully so,

The parents can take the kids to school until new hires are in place. Health is priority. This is perfect solution.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. Have the state national guard drive busses until they can hire new drivers.

[smirkymonkey]

20. Exactly.

Enough of this shit. I have had it with these idiots.

[c-rational]

4. Bye bye.

[flying_wahini]

6. Let them walk. Too bad, soooo sad.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I assume these people have other sources of income if they are

willing to give up their jobs.

[thucythucy]

8. Can the Governor mobilize the National Guard

to fill the gaps?

And shame on the union for being such a Covidiot enabler. Not only are they risking the lives of the children put in their charge, but also their fellow workers and their families.

"We are respectful of that."

Yeah well, i'm respectful of those who don't want to put people's lives at risk. If these drivers won't respect this safety rule, what other safety rule violations is the union willing to "respect?"

[left-of-center2012]

9. In linked article ...

In Massachusetts, the National Guard is bringing kids to school.
"That has been discussed as a potential kind (of) last report," Max Reiss, the communications director for the governor's office said.

[thucythucy]

10. Thanks.

I obviously only read the post--I should have gone further before asking, so thank you for taking the time to answer.

I also obviously need more coffee.

Best wishes.

[left-of-center2012]

15. No problem

In the past some people have commented (usually negatively) to some of my threads after having only read the 'Thread title'.

I'll ask "Did you read the post?" and they'll admit they did not,
saying they were reacting to the 'title'.

[CTyankee]

11. I simply can't agree any "freedom from vaccination" in our public schools bus drivers.

I like our governor and voted for him. His number one job is keeping us safe, where he can. It's part of the job of governing.

[brush]

12. I don't get it. Why would drivers refuse the vaxx?

They're the first one on the FRONT LINE that the kids see and have to walk past when boarding bus. They should want to protect themselves from a possible virus infection that a kid may have gotten from a parent of other contact, and they should also have in mind that they don't want to take the chance of infecting kids getting on their bus if they're infected.

Just too many dumb ass trumpers still around and braainwashed by disinformation.

[left-of-center2012]

16. It's the "My body, my choice" thingy

Not applicable to a women's right to choose.

[uncle ray]

13. i wonder how many of those 227 also complain about the lack of restaurant workers?

or the increasing prices of goods and services?

these assholes do hypocrisy real well.

[Shermann]

14. OK I get the anti-vax thing, but what is the rationale for being anti-test?

Sure those tests are inconvenient and unpleasant. But having a job is usually inconvenient and unpleasant.

[Merlot]

18. Does the article state how many bus drivers will/are vaccinated?

227 sounds like a high number, but what is the percentage? If there are 10k drivers in the state, then it's an insignificant number.

[left-of-center2012]

19. No

looking at a number of articles I could not find the number or percentage who are vaccinated.

The 227 (or some articles say 300) are the ones who refuse to be vaccinated or tested.
A much larger number refuse to be vaccinated but agree to be tested.

[Blue_Adept]

22. about 15%

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/coronavirus/ahead-of-conn-vaccine-mandate-for-school-staff-dattco-warns-all-bus-drivers-may-not-be-in-compliance/

DATTCO said of its approximately 1,000 bus drivers in the state, about 85% are vaccinated and just over 100 are willing to be tested weekly. About 10 drivers are not willing to be tested at all, according to DATTCO Vice President Bryony Chamberlain.

The state does not plan on extending the mandate deadline currently.

"Partially because we believe that parents around the state want their children, especially those who are unvaccinated, around people who are vaccinated. And that doesn't change whether it's Monday, whether it's Wednesday, whether it is Friday or it's December 1st," said Max Reiss, director of communications.

[Initech]

23. Then just fire them and replace them with someone who will.

No sympathy for these fuck heads.

[KentuckyWoman]

24. 98% Connecticut school bus drivers plan to cooperate. Only 2% won't.

The articles say 85% are vaxxed.
1558 are not vaxxed.
That means about 10400 bus drivers in Connecticut total
227 say they'll quit. = 2.1%


98% of Connecticut school bus drivers plan to comply.