BRATTLEBORO-After a week of contract negotiations, Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) school bus drivers and TravelKuz, the district's bus contractor, just one issue remains to be resolved.
But if it isn't fixed by Wednesday night, drivers say they are prepared to walk out.
On Monday, Sept. 15, Teamsters Local 597 President Curtis Clough told The Commons that the only outstanding issue to signing a five-year contract is one TravelKuz had agreed to in previous negations.
Clough said the bus company, however, "withdrew the agreement" when drivers returned to the negotiating table after a start-of-school lockout.
"They want the [union] members to give up their rights to observe picket lines," Clough said. "Under the old agreement, members have the right to refuse to cross a picket line if it's a primary labor dispute with [TravelKuz owner] Beacon Mobility."
TravelKuz is the name under which the district's contracted bus company, F.M. Kuzmeskus, operates. The company, based in Bernardston, Massachusetts, was purchased in 2023 by Beacon Mobility, whose reported annual revenue in 2025 was $5.2 billion.
"It's a nonstarter for the members of the bargaining unit, and we've given the company until Thursday," Clough said.
"They've moved backwards," he continued. "We met on Sunday, and the members who were there were not interested in moving backward; we don't even understand ethically where they're coming from. If it's not resolved by Wednesday night, we'll be engaging in an unfair labor practice strike Thursday."
"We held a vote Sunday asking, If we can fix this issue, will you vote 'yes' on the contract?" Clough said. "And the majority of people raised their hands."
Time to walk the talk
Negotiating a new contract started last spring.
The most recent round of talks was held last week, every day but Wednesday and Friday, Clough said. Each day saw one and sometimes two sessions, each lasting two to four hours.
"It's a little stunning to everybody that this issue is a hangup, because it was not a big issue to the company all spring and summer," he said. "It's almost like they're doing it to make sure they don't get a contract. They're very different from any other company we deal with."
On Sept. 5, after a stressful start of school with drivers who were clearly unfamiliar with routes and students, both parties agreed to return to the negotiating table, the company said ["After days of chaos, WSESU bus drivers back behind the wheel," News, Sept. 2].
TravelKuz could not be reached for comment by press time but on that day, as the drivers returned to work, the company issued a press release.
"We're truly thrilled to see Brattleboro's drivers back behind the wheel and greeting the students they care so deeply about," company officials wrote. "Having them reunited with the kids is a positive step for everyone, and we're grateful for the patience of families and the community through this process."
They characterized the resumption of negotiations as "things […] progressing in the right direction" and pledged to approach the talks "with hope and a spirit of partnership."
"Our goal is to find a resolution that works for everyone - one that gives drivers and their families stability and ensures children across town continue to count on safe, reliable transportation every day," the press release said.
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.