Teamster's Message to Former Laidlaw, now First Student Drivers: "...there is a major problem somewhere in this company."

Teamsters, a major union pushing against First Student's anti-union practices, released a message on it's page School Bus Workers United to former Laidlaw drivers who now find themselves working for First Student following the merger. The write up represents some interesting points about what exactly goes on at First Student's yards. Some interesting quotes from the article:

Another thing I recently witnessed in a location this school year, the contract manager at a First Student location in Maine announced to the workers they were giving each one of them a raise! The workers were happy they would be getting a raise until the contract manager told them it would be a five cent an hour raise!!

Someone else do the math, I don't feel like it.

Those of us who have been organizing in First Student locations weren't surprised by this amount~ this is the same company who makes their employees beg for toilet paper, office supplies, and anything else that is NOT IN THE BUDGET!!!

Always low budget, always.

Many First Student locations are run like a low budget flick! They want to run the routes as cheaply as possible, whether it means using unsafe equipment or not purchasing supplies that are needed to keep the operation running smoothly. When the mechanics have to ask to purchase motor oil or the company fails to pay their bills and lose service or the privilege of charging fuel there's a major problem somewhere in this company. [Emphasis added]

Best line anyone could have said. The entire post could have just said that and it would be correct. There is a major problem somewhere at First Student.

What may be even more interesting are the comments posted on the page by readers. I'll share one:

I am a Laidlaw driver now First Student. I am also a teamster. I have worked for a mom and pop school bus company that was swallowed up by Laidlaw. I have experienced a big company taking over. Laidlaw was number one in the business. Now I would assume that First Student will be Number One. I have spoken to several First Student drivers recently and I have also researched the First Student handbook. After filling myself with so much information I am ready to explode. -Donna LeMay

And that may be the most important part. With First Student now at #1, and void of any real, major nationwide competition, can they do just anything? The problem with contracting out school bus services is that there isn't that much choice. Basically it's now just First Student and maybe some local or regional companies. So, what happens? When you go to contracting, you really can't go back to managing your own system again. It would cost too much to start over. Eventually you run out of companies. The best solution to bus services is to do it yourself. But if it isn't possible, can't these school districts look into the past of some of these companies?

Because if your school district chose First Student, clearly they didn't.