On Tuesday, Jan. 28, four bus drivers at Arcola School refused to complete their routes as safety concerns regarding First Student Canada busses had not been addressed since a meeting in December.
First Student Canada was contracted by Southeast Cornerstone School Division, which bus driver Brenda Milligan says held promise at the beginning of the school year.
"[W]e got a new bus company come in which is fine and wonderful," she said. "They've promised us new busses, better wages, and we're still waiting to see some of these promises met."
Though there are a variety of concerns Milligan explained to The Observer that safety for youth was the reason for taking the drastic step in not completing their bus routes.
"...these ones are new busses but they've had issues that need to be solved, but they just don't seem to be getting around to it..." Milligan explained.
Milligan went on to say that there have been a number of issues this winter with the new busses and it's her hope this stand by the four of them will see change.
"...it [a bus] had broke down during the run, had some kind of mechanical issue, a parent came and took kids and then another bus came and picked up the other kids that had to be picked up yet," Milligan said. "Nobody got to the school. But, by 11 o'clock all was good."
"One of the drivers had a brake issue and was told to drive it anyways."
In addition to these sorts of problems the drivers are also taking issue with the policy of still running their bus in -45C weather instead of -40C, which despite only being a difference of five degrees is quite disconcerting to the bus drivers and the parents who are supporting them.
In relation to these cold weather starts, Milligan says the policy of starting the bus simply requires the drivers to let the engine run for 60 seconds, turn them off, then turn them on again to complete the run. Which somewhat baffles the driver as diesel engines need time to warm up in the winter, though she indicated the procedure comes with reducing cost of fuel.
One of the other issues Milligan and the other drivers are taking issue with are a lack of winter tires, no winter fronts, and CB radios which only have a radius of 15 km according to Milligan.
"They didn't have winter tires for us because they didn't budget it," Milligan stated. "They didn't have winter fronts for the busses because they didn't budget it. They have $425 CB radios in the busses that do not have a radius of more than 15 km, there's no home base, it's simply for the bus drivers to chat."
Milligan had previously asked the company if she could exchange the CB radio for winter tires as her opinion was that they would provide an added level of safety instead of the radio. Initially she was declined, but managed to convince First Student Canada to properly equip her bus after threatening to quit.
"I have a new bus," Milligan explained. "I finally got satisfaction because I threatened to quit two or three weeks ago and that's the only way I got a new bus with proper tires. And that seems really sad when you have to do that, when you have to almost threaten to quit before you get any results."
According to Milligan the bus drivers met with First Student Canada personnel before school holidays in December; but, after asking for changes the drivers say that nothing was done which backed them into a corner.
"We just got backed into a corner where the drivers aren't feeling safe anymore, the parents don't need to have to worry about that, shouldn't have to," Milligan said. "We're not doing our job properly if the busses aren't safe..."
Upset about how the issue came as far as it did Milligan explained it was their last effort to make First Student Canada take notice.
"We don't want to do this because it's the children that are suffering, but it's the parents that want their children to be safe," Milligan stated. "So, every child is entitled to an education and we have to bring them there, but we have to do it safely and that's what our issue is."
Richard Arndt, a bus driver for 25 years, said that this sort of thing has happened in the past and that he's sure things will be sorted out eventually though taking such drastic measures is too bad.
"...when I drove in Carlyle it did a little bit, but that was with Rillings [Rilling Bus Ltd.]," Arndt explained. "But that got solved too, it just took a little time. It just causes so much hard feelings to go this route, it's awful, it leaves a taste in your mouth forever. And we're not negotiators, we're just bus drivers so it's tough on everybody, but hopefully it will get done."
Essentially Arndt said everyone involved with the issue just needs a just to breathe and communicate.
"We got to take five steps back and have a smoke and settle this, and everything will be just fine," Arndt said. "People have got frustrated with certain things and it has to be addressed. It just went viral too quick, too fast. It usually runs into trouble when it does that."
"I think it'll be alright though, it'll be alright. Regina's got to get down to us and have a general meeting with everybody, all the bus drivers in one spot, and hash all this stuff out."
Since Tuesday, there are reports that three of the four drivers put in letters of resignation, while Milligan explained to CTV that on Thursday, Jan. 30, her bus was missing from her yard. Upon calling the company she was then informed that she no longer had a position with them and that the bus was in the shop.
Unavailable to The Observer, First Student Canada emailed a statement to CTV commenting on the issue.
"First Student would never put a bus on the road unless we were confident in its safety. We perform regular scheduled maintenance and ongoing vehicle maintenance checks to ensure our buses are in top running condition," the statement to CTV read.
"Each of our school buses follows a stringent daily, monthly, and annual vehicle maintenance program. In addition, each driver conducts a multi-point inspection prior to beginning his route, using the latest electronic equipment. Safety is our core value."
