From Spokane Washington I am a non-union employee who was Laidlaw then to First Student after the buy-out. First lost the contract bid for our school district contract and Durham has acquired it. I thought Liadlaw was an employer who did not respect the employees in wages and benefits and First Student proved to be a lateral move in this quality within the few months since the buy-out. With the understanding that Durham School Bus Services will be the new employer of all the former First Student employees, I did some checking. It seems that Durham holds the lead of these three school bus companies for unsatisfactory quality employment.

While being employed by Laidlaw Educational Services and First Student, I have been required to work without pay, not allowed a formal lunch break, and subject to unfair wage scale practices. How is Durham? Will I expect more of the same treatment?

I think we need union representation BADLY!

Your note was forwarded to our Organizing Department here at the IBT. Someone should be contacting you soon. Thank you for writing this here ... hang in there.

Dear Marianne,
I understand your plight all to well for I am also a Durham employee in Carpentersville,IL. When Durham took over the student transportation of our school district last July we knew there would be changes, but never thought of just how bad they would be. When Durham came in they painted a very nice and rosey picture for everyone and people actually thought things would be better with them. Well I can tell you that after almost ten long months that picture has gone from nice and rosey to dark and VERY gloomy!
If you are lucky enough to keep the pay rate you are at or, they feel generous enough to give you alittle pay raise to make you decide to stay don't be fooled. Because what they will neglect to tell you is that pay increase they are giving you will probably be the last you will receive through the term of the contract they have with your district!
If you were lucky enough to have paid sick days before guess what, you won't any longer(Durham does NOT give paid sick days). Durhams policy on sick time is usually 8 or 9 sick days(occurrences) for the school year. After 3 days you will be given a verbal warning. Anything after 3 days to 6 days you will be given a written warning. After 6 days to 9 days they can terminate you!
As for the insurance they offer, it is supplemental insurance not major medical and it stinks. For me personally to take this insurance to cover myself, wife and 2 kids would cost me about $180 per week. So basically I would be working just to pay for insurance that doesn't really cover anything!
They will at a whim make changes to your hours, route and equipment without even notifying you in advance. And if you try and complain about it to management, they will tell you they have the right to makes changes to accommodate the schedule so, either deal with it or quit or, keep complaining and they will terminate you for insubordination.
Durham and First Student are only interested in one thing, their bottom line, their profit margin and how much they can make off your hard work and sweat. In keeping your wages and benefits at next to nothing, this is how they make their profit! You are not even treated like a human being, because to them you are nothing but an at will employee that can be replaced at ANYTIME!!
You have NO voice, NO say when it comes to your job and above all....NO RESPECT!!!!
So Marianne the answer to your question is...YES YOU NEED A UNION! YES YOU NEED THE TEAMSTERS!!
It is time for you and your co-workers to get out from under the foot of corporate America and take back the POWER, CONTROL and your RIGHT to decide your OWN futures!!!!
I suggest that you contact the IBT organizing department through this website and, contact your local Teamster office to get the process started! THE SOONER THE BETTER FOR YOU AND ALL YOUR CO-WORKERS!!
We are ALL here for you, with you and, will be there to support you when the time comes!!!!!
Always Remember to:
REMAIN STRONG!
REMAIN COMMITED!
REMAIN UNITED!

In Solidarity,
Russ Harris

Dear Marianne,
My name is Corey and I too am a Durham employee, I work with Russ Harris and trust me when I say every word he said is the truth. From my own personal experience, I was working to become the safety supervisor for the Durham facilities that now service Dist. 300 in Illinois. I was working about 60 hours a week all summer long to get them ready for the school year with the understanding that I was to be given that position, well after all I did not only did I not recieve the position but my hours were cut to 30 per week. I am a single mom with 4 kids and was struggling to get by when I was working 60 hours, can you imagine the devistation I am going through now. I cannot afford to pay my rent or car payment let alone my daughters college tuition. The reason I gathered from what I was told, was that I was not enough of a corperate type person to hold that position. Now I always thought that safety began with the drivers, monitors and our precios cargo!!!! Aparently I am wrong according to Durham. So I strongly suggest you go to your local teamsters hall and the IBT and start talking to your co-workers, I would hate to see the same things happening to more of my comrads.
If you all need anything we are here for you--please dont hesitate to ask for our help, we will do everything we can for you.
Be strong,
Corey Kropp