I was wondering if other former and current Laidlaw locations, have seen any changes since the laidlaw buy out by First Student? How has it affected your job as a Driver or Monitor? Do you feel that these changes are a good thng or not? Do you think that those changes are going to be affecting all of the Laidlaw locations? Any one know of a time frame of the implimentation of these changes? Your thought's please!

Everyone,

In Hodgkins we have seen some changes, the name on the buses changed to First Student with a clause towards the front of the bus stating, "Owned and Operated by Laidlaw" Theft Mate System on all buses, Bus Empty signs added to the child check systems on all buses. Lime Yellow vests with IPP pocket that tears appart after a few wearings. ID cards that has the company name prior to Laidlaw, next my name. Safety messages on the radio three times a day. What is next, we would like to know!

Oh yes that ugly yellow vest! We only have to wear it in the yard, not while driving thank God. Those safety messages have gone away at our yard, guess they are to busy. We are so short handed that the dispatcher, branch manager, and 2 mechanics are driving. We have one mechanic that doesnt have a license so he turns into a dispatcher when this occurs. Also the safety meetings are being made into mandatory which is against our contract. We are supposed to have 5 mandatory and no more.

I personally do not have an issue wearing the yellow vest. They are for "our" safety and don't see where there is an issue with them. As a matter of fact, one of our "helper" drivers slid under her bus on ice while pre tripping this past winter and guess how she was seen? Yes, that yellow vest.I put mine on when I'm leaving for work and straight thru runs, then running personal errands. I recently divorced and my ex is a trash driver and they have been in my house for over 10 years. Maybe thats why its not an issue for me. They are for our safety, not to make us angry.

yes we also had to inherrit those vests, but i too agree, they are for our own safety.
laidlaw had a logo,"when in doubt don't". that has now changed.I can't quote what FS says cause I honestly can't remember.
we also have to but those pink "bus is empty "signs in the back of the bus,not that i'm complaining about that.
and if we are home buses we have to radeo in that our bus is parked ,empty and sign is in place.
accidents are no longer called accidents they are collisions
we also have saftey messages posted on doors,they were being changed often but lately someone is slacking lol.
Other than that no major changes yet.but......from what I hear we are waiting.lol

John,

I have been through 4 buy outs and there have always been changes. Some of them have been major others have been minor. Changes are always going to happen. You are going to like some and not others.

New one today, we got polo shirts! Yesterday we were told to park our cars back in, those that didn't got a warning letter on the windsheild!

Hi John. I just found out within the past couple of days that First will be implementing some new policies with the beginning of the school year. We have asked our Safety person about the dexterity testing. He stated that we would find out about this at our start up meeting. I'm sure there will be lots to come. But since we are teamsters I see no issue with us having input to the changes.

For those who are not familiar with the FS Dexterity testing, I will explain what happened the first time it was implemented at a site we were organizing in Fall 2006.

FS was racing to get this testing completed by Oct 31, 06. They were telling the workers it was mandated by the Federal Govt and had to be completed by that date.

Workers were buzzing about this new test. The company waited until shortly before the final date to even begin testing the workers. Because FS told them it was mandated by our govt many believed it to be true. Workers were tricked into this mind set.

The day came for the first test. There was an older woman, short and full bodied, who took her turn first. The bus was in place, weighted dummy prepared and the mat sat at the rear of the bus.

The woman, up in years, is now being timed as to how quickly she can get up and down the stairs, in and out of the seat, stomp on the brake pedals and finally, tug and pull the weighted dummy through the school bus. She and the dummy reached the rear of the bus and now it is time for her to jump out the back door to the waiting mat.

She jumps, the mat slides one way and she goes the other way and they had to cart her off in an ambulance to the hospital. She survived, but think of the trama placed on her knees, feet, and her back! Not to mention how tramatized she probably was for weeks after the leap from the rear of a school bus.

Well, needless to say, FS decided they would not have anyone jumping from the rear of the bus anymore. Now they would have them sit on their butts and slide off! What made them change their minds? Were they having nightmares about lawsuits?

What we found out, while organizing FS yards, is that it is NOT A FEDERALLY MANDATED TEST. It is a test FS came up with. Is it to weed out the weak worker? Is it to eliminate the older workers? These questions are not certain. But what is certain is it can be a way to get rid of someone who cannot pass their test.

A union contract will help protect workers from suddenly having things like this thrown at them. Changes in policies and procedures would have to be addressed with union reps.

SO when FS decides to implement the Dexterity test in your yard think of this poor woman's experience!

This test was in place at Laidlaw back in the 1990's.

Today we had a meeting and was told about the new GPS systems being put in our busses over the summer and digital cameras too.

But wait theres more! When we have our run picks in August and our 2 hour meeting we are to go back to the yard and have lunch on the company. After that we are to have another 4 HOURS of some safety stuff that our boss dosent even know what it will be about as of yet!

I tell ya Atlantic Express is looking better and better!

Just to add to the PDT posting!

This test is exactly as she says. IT IS coming to your location, if you are employed by First Student.

It is part of their Policy --
It is just another "false security" portrayed in their "company profile" to imply they put safety first.

When I worked for this company, I took the test --
I have seen safety and contract managers pass and fail by choice, whether they "could physically" pass it or not, I have known co-workers who never had to take the test, they were simply "passed".
It is the "First Student favoritism thing"!

So take the advice for what it is intended and consider the possibility, that this company has no limitations when it comes to making money. If they come up with some crazy scheme to sell contracts, the employees will bear the burden.