I just wanted to let everyone know that First Student's termination policy for rear end collisions can be fought and won.

We had a driver deadheading during the last week of school hit a vehicle making a right turn into a business on a busy street.  We did not dispute the accident, or the details.  We felt that the termination was not justified because it was minor in scope, less than $2,000 in actual damages, and no serious injuries.  The police also did a scene investigation and only issued the driver a warning.

First student initally put this driver on something they called "administrated leave" which we grieved because there is no such term or action in our CBA or in any First Student policy.  After they conducted an internal investigation they sent the driver a certified letter that they  had been terminated. 

We fought both the administrative leave (back door suspension) and the termination and are happy to report we were victorious on both.  Not only did we get this driver their job back we got them their lost pay while they were on this faux administrative leave.  We did this in step 2 of the grievance procedure.  This didn't go through arbitration.

I hope this information can be useful to any of other locals that might be faced with a similar situation.