NCAE calls for $15 hourly wage for school bus drivers

AVOID AND WHAT TIME IT WILL

REOPEN.

>>> TODAY, TRIANGLE BUS DRIVERS

ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT

CRIPPLING DRIVER SHORTAGES FELT

ACROSS THE STATE.

NIA HARDEN IS LIVE TO EXPLAIN

THE DEMANDS THAT THEY WILL

LAYOUT THIS AFTERNOON.

>> Reporter: WELL, THE NORTH

CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF

EDUCATORS SAY THIS IS AFFECTING

THE ENTIRE STATE.

IT IS LARGELY THE PAY THAT IS

THE PROBLEM.

TODAY, BUS DRIVERS ARE GOING TO

BE PRESSING LAWMAKERS TO GET A

SALARY INCREASE INCLUDED FOR

BUS DRIVERS WITHIN THE STATE

BUDGET.

THEY WANT BUS DRIVERS TO BE

GUARANTEED AT LEAST $15.00 PER

HOUR.

IN WAKE COUNTY, THE DISTRICT

HAS MORE THAN 100 DRIVER

VACANCIES.

RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN HALF OF

THE WAKE COUNTY DRIVERS ARE

DOING SHARED RUNS WHICH MEANS

ONE DRIVER HANDLES MULTIPLE

ROUTES WHILE BUS DRIVERS SAY

THEY CAN DO THE EXTRA WORK THEY

ALSO SAY IT IS NOT EASY.

>> IT IS JUST THAT MUCH HARDER

WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO DO.

AND, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN SAY

TO SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR A

JOB THAT WILL CONVINCE THEM TO

BE A BUS DRIVER. IF THE PAY IS

SO LOW.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL DISTRICTS

ARE ALREADY TRYING TO DO BONUSES

AND PAY RAISES.

BUT THE NEED IS STILL GREAT.

TODAY, THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS

GOING TO BE AT 11:00 THIS