Bus Stop Ads, Bus Drivers Fired, and Equity
Cheers RVA!
Today will be cloudy with scattered thunderstorms and showers likely, with a high of 78 and a low of 58. There is a possibility of strong wind gusts and hail. Stay safe out there.
the juice:
Five RPS bus drivers have been fired for “obstructing operations” after indicating they would not perform after-school activities, causing the school system to cancel most after-school programs, according to WRIC.
On April 8, the drivers “called in” (meaning to not show up for work) and then joined a group of about 25 drivers who protested outside city hall advocating for overtime pay in the ongoing collective bargaining agreements.
Superintendent Kamras wrote in an email shared with WRIC that RPS has committed to a 6% raise for bus drivers and decreased the minimum number of hours worked from 40 to 30, while keeping salaries the same.
Much of the discussion surrounding the negotiations stems from how drivers are compensated for completing after-school routes, tasks that may take only 30 minutes but are not necessarily worth a driver’s time to work additional hours.
In previous years, the policy had been to pay drivers two hours of overtime for the after-school routes, even if they did not work the entire time, as an incentive for drivers to work late.
In 2024 it was estimated the division spent $1.8 million in overtime alone for drivers in the district.
the pulp:
The stepdaughter of the pedestrian killed on West Broad Street in Henrico last Monday evening is asking if anyone has any additional information on the situation, suggesting reports only that “he was drunk and wearing dark clothing” may be creating a false narrative of the situation, via reddit.
GRTC will allow ads at bus stops to help subsidize fare-free transit, according to Victoria Ifatusin at the Richmonder. Last December City council passed an ordinance allowing the company to place ads.
Georgia Pacific has closed a plywood plant in Emporia, causing 550 workers to lose their jobs, via WTVR. The company cited a 30-year low in home sales as part of the reason the facility is shutting down, with plywood used mainly in home construction and remodeling.
the dive:
City council member Sarah Abubaker (4th district) has written in her most recent newsletter about salary increases for the city’s highest paid employees.
An amendment that would have prevented raises for those earning more than $175k/year was not approved, but the council did decide to extend the period of time to discuss the budget for next year.
Abubaker writes:
Over the past few weeks, I’ve proposed amendments to the City budget that would have limited large salary increases for the highest-paid employees — those earning over $175,000 — to prioritize the many City employees doing demanding, essential work for far less.
This wasn’t about politics or personalities. It was about fiscal stewardship and fairness — values I believe should guide how we spend every public dollar.
The Interim CAO has told us that the city is on the brink of a $390 million shortfall by 2030. At the same time, we’re approving millions in raises and creating dozens of new upper- and mid-level positions. Meanwhile, refuse collectors, social workers, and JRPS park rangers — the very people keeping the City running — are receiving modest raises that still leave them earning under the area median income.
This is not what equity looks like.
Real equity means prioritizing those who have the least — not continuing to expand the privileges of those who already have the most.
It also demands accountability — not just for how we compensate workers, but how we govern. This is not Mayor Avula's budget. It was created by the prior administration, and by the time it reached City Council, our ability to make meaningful changes was extremely limited.
That’s a broken process.
You can receive updates from Sarah Abubaker here.
the vibe:
Have a tranquil day RVA!
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