Richmond Public School and the union representing the division’s bus drivers, LiUNA Local 804, agreed to rehire the five bus drivers who were fired in May for calling out after-school activity runs to attend a school board meeting in April.  

In return, LiUNA agreed to RPS’ terms, requiring that the drivers can no longer receive the flat two hour overtime pay for after-school activity runs and cannot conduct mass from work that may disrupt school activities. The agreements are part of the final terms regarding an initial collective bargaining contract, which was previously at an impasse. The contract would be in place for three years, extending to the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

“Moving forward, LiUNA and RPS are committed to preventing further cancellations of any schools or programs requiring bus services, ensuring that students can get to school and home predictably and on time,” the press release stated. 

The agreement comes after a long fight between LiUNA and RPS, as the five drivers – also known as the RPS Five – and supporters for them have attended school board meetings and held press conferences outside of City Hall ever since, calling for the reinstatement of the drivers. 

Both parties also agreed to implement a new system for activity runs, allowing drivers to receive pay for the time worked, including a 30-minute waiting period for passengers before beginning their runs, which would be paid at their hourly rate. The drivers would also be paid in 15-minute intervals for the time required to complete the runs. 

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras called the commitments the “start [of] a new chapter.” 

“LiUNA gave a little bit, we have a little bit and we met in the middle,” Kamras said. “And that’s what we, the adults, need to do on behalf of our kids.”

Keon Shim, the union’s business manager said that the drivers’ jobs are their lives, and that they are excited to get back to work under the new agreements. 

“We know that this agreement has been a long time in making,” he said. “It addresses the needs of our members and the students and the school district.”

School Board Chair Shonda Fernandez (9th District), Vice Chair Mathew Percival (1st District), Wesley Hedgpath (4th District) Stephanie Rizzi (5th District) and Emmett Jafari (8th District), were present for the announcement. Fernadez said that the entire board, including members not present, were all in “full solidarity” with the decision. 

“We appreciate LiUNA and the administration working together to find alignment and unite ahead of the start of the school year,” she said.

When asked about the division’s decision to stand by its original decision of firing the employees, Kamras said it’s something both parties are going to “agree to disagree on.” What matters, he said, is that it’s in the past. 

“What we're looking forward to is the future, and that is getting everybody back to work and creating an agreement that is financially responsible and sustainable for RPS and the future,” he said. 

At a school board meeting in early June, legal representatives from LiUNA said that they would pursue legal action if RPS denied their reinstatement. 

Before their firings, Richmond schools and LiUNA have clashed over how drivers should be paid for transporting kids after school for over a year, resulting in contract negotiations through the collective bargaining process being left at an impasse. An RPS audit found that many bus drivers were being paid two hours overtime for after-school activity runs, even if they had not worked for the full four hours that week or if the run was less than two hours. 

The bus drivers held a press conference of their own outside of city hall after their joint conference with RPS, expressing joy to be back on the job. 

“Transporting our children safely to and from school is a responsibility that we do not take lightly,” said bus driver Kimya Williams. “We enjoy doing this. It's the love for our children that's always been our mission.”

Kamras said he estimates that the official final contract between union and division will be signed before the start of the new school year. The drivers will begin working again on July 1.

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org