VERMONT TEAMSTERS LOCKED OUT AT TRAVEL KUZ ONE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

Thousands of Students Could Be Left Without Transportation

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters school bus drivers and monitors are locked out at Travel Kuz, a subsidiary of Beacon Mobility, as the company refuses to bargain in good faith. The workers provide student transportation for Windham SE Supervisory Union.

Since the last round of negotiations on Aug. 7, Travel Kuz has denied Teamsters Local 597 the opportunity to meet or schedule further collective bargaining sessions.

"If Travel Kuz doesn't agree to meet before the start of the school year, it will at the expense of our community and our children," said Curtis Clough, President of Local 597. "Our members are essential workers, and we are simply asking for them to be treated with respect and given their fair share."

The employer has repeatedly failed to pay workers on time, withheld 401(k) matches, held onto health care premiums for extended periods, and put workers through egregious treatment.

"It is important to me to stand up for what is right and fair — we aren't asking for a lot, just to have compensation that is on par with other workers in our industry in Vermont," said Bobby Powers, a bus driver and member of the negotiating committee. "We work hard to get our kids to school on time and in the right frame of mind, and in return we just want to be compensated fairly for our daily commitment to excellence."

Travel Kuz claims they cannot afford to pay workers the wages they have earned and refuses to provide the union with a copy of their revenue contract with the school district. Local 597 has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Travel Kuz for withholding information requested by the union.

Chartered in 1939, Teamsters Local 597 represents workers in trades such as small package, fuel and freight delivery, dairy processing, warehousing, security, policing, school and public busing, dispatching, hardware sales, laboratory tech, and maintenance. For more information, visit teamsterslocal597.net.

Contact: 
Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279
[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 597