{"id":630346,"date":"2025-08-28T18:49:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T22:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/?p=630346"},"modified":"2025-08-28T20:14:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T00:14:39","slug":"bus-company-accuses-union-drivers-of-unlawful-and-unsafe-picketing-at-brattleboro-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2025\/08\/28\/bus-company-accuses-union-drivers-of-unlawful-and-unsafe-picketing-at-brattleboro-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Bus company accuses union drivers of unlawful and unsafe picketing at Brattleboro school"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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School buses are parked outside Mt. Mansfield Union High School in Jericho on March 5, 2024. File photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bus transportation company Travel Kuz sent a cease-and-desist letter Wednesday to the Vermont Teamsters Local 597 alleging the union engaged in \u201cunlawful\u201d picketing practices and put student safety at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Teamsters Local 597 president denied the allegations, and local law enforcement said they did not witness criminal activity during Wednesday\u2019s demonstration at Brattleboro Union High School. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The labor dispute began when the company, affiliated with Beacon Mobility, locked out its Vermont union bus drivers and monitors<\/a> from the Brattleboro headquarters last week after contract negotiations broke down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Kuz provides student transportation for Windham Southeast Supervisory Union schools in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney and Vernon. The union bus drivers and monitors with Teamsters Local 597 typically handle school routes for the 10 schools in the supervisory union, but they have not been allowed to work with their employer Travel Kuz due to the lockout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Amid\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Amid work stoppage, bus company brings in replacement workers for start of school in Windham County<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Since the work stoppage by Travel Kuz, the union drivers and monitors have been on the picket line. The company brought in replacement workers<\/a> to serve Windham Southeast Supervisory Union schools for the start of the school year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Kuz claimed that union members picketing Wednesday at Brattleboro Union High School spat on school buses, blocked school bus access, caused traffic disruptions and hazardous conditions and displayed \u201cobscene and aggressive behavior toward students and drivers,\u201d according to a Travel Kuz press release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtis Clough, president of Teamsters Local 597, denied the allegations of union members spitting, risking public safety or otherwise causing harm to students or drivers. He said the union members did cross the street a few times during the picketing but that is a legally protected activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the union is looking into taking legal action against the company and the company\u2019s counsel due to allegations in the letter. He said it is the company\u2019s actions \u2014 tapping replacement workers and preventing local bus drivers and monitors who are more familiar with the community and school routes from working \u2014 that are detrimental to students, not the union demonstrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn’t put any students in danger yesterday,\u201d Clough said. \u201cThey were the ones that put students in danger by locking out the bus drivers.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Travel Kuz company is seeking injunctive relief against the union and claimed to be working with local authorities and legal counsel to \u201censure compliance with labor laws and public safety standards,\u201d according to the press release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clough said Brattleboro police were present during picketing and did not issue any citations or tell the union to cease demonstrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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