Bus drivers involved in labor dispute with Durham confirm they will not strike Monday

Bus drivers involved in a contract dispute with Durham School Services have confirmed they will not go on strike Monday, March 5.

Durham officials told IUSD on Friday that collective bargaining negotiations between the company and its association of drivers will continue through at least Thursday, March 8. In the meantime, routes in the Irvine Unified School District will continue to be serviced by Durham at the regular times and locations. Durham School Services operates a majority of Irvine’s student busing routes and serves a number of other districts, including Santa Ana and Laguna Beach. This week the company reported that it had reached an impasse in negotiations with its drivers, who had authorized a possible strike. IUSD is not involved in the labor dispute but is continuing to monitor discussions. "The safety and wellbeing of our students remains our No. 1 priority, and we will continue to take proactive steps to ensure all of our routes are covered," Superintendent Terry Walker said. IUSD NewsFlash will continue to provide the latest updates.