Although the majority of these positions are classified as part-time including drivers and monitors, the employees are hoping the District administration reconsiders and increases they're working hours.
This includes giving them extra protections from the Covid 19 Virus as well. This would include masks, sanitizing solutions due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is ongoing. This is something that the protesting personnel feel needs to be covered as Covid-19 cases in our community are at an all-time high since the onset of the pandemic back in March 2020.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District hire part time personnel to the Transportation Department and their hours may vary.
A spokesperson for the protesting group spoke publicly as a group of about 30 displeased employees gathered on Monday morning.
"We were promised on August 9, 2021 in front of all the bus drivers, monitors and mechanics that this school year we were going to have 40 hours per week and overtime. It was stated that after two weeks of school we would go 40 hours plus, it has been more than month and still nothing. Currently the only ones working overtime are dispatchers, and two of those are new employees to transportation," stated the protesting spokesperson. "With that in mind, we feel and strongly believe due to not having a fair opportunity in those vacancies, those employees were placed in there as favoritism. We tried talking to Mr. Araiza and he did not want to receive us, even the secretary yelled at us that we were not going to get attended, unless we had something in writing. But thanks to Mr. R Salinas who did listen to and gave orders to Mr. Araiza to attend to us. The following day he reached out to us, but mentioned he only wanted two people at a time, which we did not agree to, we wanted to be heard as a group 10 to avoid different perspectives. He did not like the idea, got angry and began to yell that "he was the Boss". At the end he did listen to us and told us that within two weeks he would explain
on how things would work out."
"Since the pandemic started, we have been working only 25 hours per week, currently an extra 5 hours per week for 16 employees only. Regarding the memo of work assignment, those extra hours will be based on timecards and in the event of a tie than seniority will be selected. We feel that Seniority is a big key factor in all of this; for the following reasons LOYALTY, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Unfortunately, due to the cost of living and inflation of food cost we struggle with payments. Finally, we just want a fair opportunity when it comes to new vacancies and overtime privileges. He mentioned in front of all transportation employees that the reason he would give 40 hours to new employees was because he is afraid of losing them. He also mentioned that seniority employees had to be okay with it, because they would not leave and start fresh anywhere else. We felt discouraged, discriminated, betrayed, and made fun of in front of the whole transportation team."