BATON ROUGE - Bus driver union representatives said four CATS drivers will be rewarded back pay after fighting their suspensions.

The drivers were suspended earlier this year for taking part in protests, union president Namoi Guy said Thursday evening. In February, people held signs outside the CATS terminal on Florida Boulevard picketing what participants said was shotty bus maintenance and safety concerns. The drivers who got suspended were part of the picket, Guy added.

Guy is among the group that was suspended.

CATS countered no buses being used to transport riders were dangerous. Managers said they had to drive buses on the day of the protest so that routes were not interrupted.

In addition to having to retroactively pay the employees who were suspended earlier this year, CATS will also have to remove the suspension from the drivers' records, Guy said.

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