Entering Week 3 of the school bus strikes in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, union leaders say the strike is going strong, with negotiations scheduled this week.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Entering week three of the school bus strike s in the Matanuska-Susitna region, union leaders say the strike is going strong as negotiations are scheduled this week. “The spirits are pretty good, and we’re really hoping to end this strike and be able to return to work for the remainder of the school year,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, the political coordinator for Teamsters Local 959 , which represents the bus drivers.
The union’s greatest concern is fleet maintenance, citing issues such as brake inspection failures. In one case — a driver’s seat that burnt up due to faulty wiring — the driver said they were told to cover it with a towel and carry on with their route. Since the strike started, Fitzgerald says that workers under Durham’s health insurance plan have had their coverage canceled. He said some found out only after going to the emergency room or being told at their appointments that the insurance was no longer available. “We went out on strike three years ago, and that lasted for about five and a half weeks, six weeks. and the company never canceled their health care during that period, as far as we know,” Fitzgerald said. “It definitely was surprising to our membership to have no warning from their employer, to have no sort of alternative be presented to them and to just show up at the emergency room and hospitals and not have any coverage anymore.” A representative for Durham School Services told Alaska’s News Source that “employees who have continued to work and are current on their healthcare contributions continue to have active, uninterrupted coverage.” A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday with Teamsters Local 959 and Durham School Services, the company that has a 10-year busing contract with the district. “I can confirm that our team looks forward to bargaining and negotiating in good faith with the Teamsters Local 959 tomorrow and on Wednesday,” a Durham School Services representative said. Fitzgerald hopes the meeting will be productive and says he wishes representatives would stay in Alaska until there is an agreement, rather than rushing back to the Lower 48 after March 18.2026 Iditarod Live BlogSharon Hildebrand elected Chief/Chairman of Tanana Chiefs ConferencePolice chief speaks on homicide suspect that Anchorage police found dead in Eagle River woods
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