To the editor:
This is a comment pertaining to a letter to the editor titled Rural school closures absurd.
Its winter! As a representative of United Steelworkers Local 5481 School Bus Drivers employed at First Student it was disconcerting that the bus drivers are being blamed for rural route school closures. Bus drivers considering the job they undertake each and every school day with great care and diligence of moving our most precious cargo children and grandchildren are one of or if not the most under valued and under appreciated occupations.
To think that for one minute the bus drivers would be blamed for Mother Nature's wrath is as much a mystery as the unseasonable weather patterns that sees near summer weather in December and then freezing rain vs snow.
Arguably this unseasonable weather calls for additional precaution to ensure the safety of the children and the general public at large. Just for the record the decisions whether the rural routes are run or not is a call by the school boards transportation services. Talk to your school bus drivers and they can advise as to the trials and tribulations and perils that they face daily let alone when inclement weather and treacherous slippery conditions.
Bus drivers for the most part do this work for the love of the job and the interaction with the children and the schools albeit sometimes it is a challenge.
They would not take risks just so someone is not inconvenienced. What relevance is the question do bus drivers get paid that surely that is not a determining factor pertaining to the safety of children.
Although i note the author is fortunate enough to have paid sick leave. It is not a legitimate alternative to run the buses without any regard to weather unless you want to take the risk of attending the hospital or worse the morgue to pick up your children which is essentially what is being suggested.
I polled our members and they confirmed that dangerous conditions did exist both in the rural areas and the city and anyone who drove on those days surely experienced the same conditions and on one of those days there were over 50 collisions and fender benders. I say hats off to the bus drivers and congratulations on the very important work you do each and everyday in our community.
Herb Daniher,
Thunder Bay
