Cobb bus drivers back down from threat of strike

Cobb bus drivers say they encountered payroll issues after the county switched to a new operator

Cobb bus drivers say they encountered payroll issues after the county switched to a new operator

Cobb County bus drivers have called off their threat to strike over payroll issues, a union representative said Monday.

The problems began when the county switched to a new operator, First Transit, earlier this year.

Drivers began complaining shortly thereafter that they were not receiving their full paychecks, or that the debit cards they were given as payment charged fees to use.

Ken Howell, a retired Cobb bus driver and union representative, said the errors arose as a result of the expedited nature of the contract.

“In meetings with the company we have made significant progress,” he said, adding that striking was “no longer an option.”

“We are very relieved that the company is doing all that they can at present to correct this issue and to address it very appropriately,” Howell said.

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