Volume 125 Issue 25
Monday, October 1, 2012
the student voice since 1904
THE BEAT HIVE
KANSAN.COM
Check out the music hits of last month
ELECTION
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bus ariver saga continues as grievance is filed
VIKAAS SHANKER
vshanker@kansan.com
Morelan said that starting today he is in training for Aero Stage Lines, a charter bus company that has locations in Topeka, Manhattan and Kansas City, Mo. Aero Stage Lines also contracts to transport Kansas Athletics teams to and from Kansas City.
Dan Morelan, the former singing University bus driver, is still appealing his termination from MV Transportation. But he's also beginning another job in case he isn't rehired.
But if Morelan is rehired by MV Transportation following the grievance process, he said he would quit
"I made a promise to these students," Morelan said. "So I've told this company up front that if w
Morelan's grievance process continues to the second stage after union representative Charles Pirtle was notified that local MV Transportation management ruled against rehiring Morelan.
were to win the appeal, I would have to resign and go back to driving for KU on Wheels"
his new job and come back to the University.
Morelan
up front that if we
"The second stage hearing
involves the local company and Dan. They will present their info, Dan will present his information and a third party will make their decision".Pirtle said.
Now, the appeal will go to the corporate level. According to the timetable set by the union's contract with MV Transportation, a hearing with the vice president should take place by Oct. 5.
FOURTH VIOLATION
Morelan was fired after he committed the maximum four work-rule violations for MV Transportation. The fourth violation came from singing with passengers while transporting them from the Kansas football game on
In the fourth violation notice, the company said a complaint was received by Danny Kaiser, the assistant director of KU Parking and Transit, sparking an investigation leading to the fourth violation.
The notice said Kaiser complained about a Free For All in the Kansan that said "Dan the bus driver just got the entire football parking bus to sing 'Sweet Caroline'"
Sept. 1.
Kaiser said he didn't complain about the Free For All; he just forwarded it to MV Transportation.
Also, the company said that by singing on the bus, Morelan disobeyed a policy that regulates what can and can't be said over a bus
The policy came in an April 16 memorandum from Operations Manager Jeremy Stacy stating that, "Examples of unprofessional use of the PA system include but are not limited to, whistling, singing, entertaining, tour guiding, hailing, or 'saying hi' to passerbys, and anything that may disturb the public or your passengers."
The bus drivers' union filed a grievance against the company on Sept. 12 saying the company violated the union contract by not properly notifying employees, including Morelan, of the P.A. system policy. The union also argues that the memorandum was a notice and not an official policy, so Morelan could
P. A. system.
MV Transportation declined comment on any questions for this story.
not have violated any work rule by singing with passengers. It asked the company to rehire Morelan with full rights and seniority.
"Consistent with our policy, MV Transportation does not comment on personnel matters involving our employees," said Lauren Davis, a spokeswoman for MV Transportation. "Our priority, along with the priority of the University of Kansas, continues to be safe and reliable transportation for all passengers."
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
Edited by Brittney Haynes
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
KU Cash Bus begins today. Be on the lookout for prizes for answering KU trivia questions correctly during bus rides.
Warm and mostly cloudy. Breezy north wind at 24 mph.