HARTFORD—School bus drivers and monitors working for private transportation companies contracted by Hartford Public Schools applaud the City Council for its unanimous vote last night to adopt an improved Living Wage Ordinance. For years the workers have been alarmed about deceptive subcontracting practices in student transportation, and they plan to bring their concerns about students' health and safety to the attention of the community oversight panel tasked with reviewing companies that come under the strengthened law.

"This vote is a victory for public safety," said Patricia Gaskin, a school bus monitor with 13 years experience supervising students on Hartford school buses. "Last week I told the City Council we supported the proposed new oversight commission. It's important that as workers and taxpayers we know that Hartford's living wage law does what it's supposed to," Gaskin, the President of the CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 chapter representing the monitors employed by Logisticare, said.

Gaskin's comments refer to the Commission on Workplace Rights, which will be empowered under the improved Living Wage Ordinance to provide community oversight of private contractors under the jurisdiction of the law. Among the changes the City Council passed last night is the requirement that all companies contracted to the school district come into compliance with the ordinance.

"School bus drivers and monitors take the safety of the children whose lives they are trusted with seriously," said CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 Executive Director Bob Rinker. "We believe a stronger living wage law will help them be better watchdogs for private bus industry employers. And it can help close the loophole that allows subcontractors to operate unsafe buses and put students at risk," he said.

Rinker's comments refer to an arrangement that allows Specialty Transportation and Autumn Transportation, the companies with the worst safety records in Connecticut, to transport Hartford's special education students and those who attend magnet schools outside the city. Members of the union are hopeful the new oversight commission can identify and expose companies that cut corners on workplace standards and student safety.

CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents 25,000 active and retired public sector workers serving in state, municipal, and town agencies, as well as local school boards across Connecticut. The union's membership also includes workers with non-profit organizations and private companies contracted to provide public services through state and local agencies. Visit www.seiu2001.org online for more information about the union's campaign to "Drive Up Standards" in the student transportation industry.