School bus drivers find out they need to re-apply for their jobs. That’s because a company from out of state will soon control buses for the Detroit Public Schools. The move is supposed to save DPS more than $50-million dollars. However, district employees say it’s unfair and the savings won’t be that much.
A private firm from Cincinnati will take over all student transportation on May 10. 345 DPS transportation workers will have to get jobs with the new company or be out of work. Pensions are impacted.
“That’s very unfair. You (have) people (that have) 29 years. All they needed was one more or two more months or three more months, and they lose. 29 years of driving a bus,” said Octavia Botsworth, a DPS bus driver.
Jeff Calloway has been driving for Detroit Public Schools for 34 years.
“What does privatization serve other than to make some individual rich? This is our money. Why should we make an individual rich? That’s the problem with the world today. You got a few, and then the majority… don’t have anything,” said Calloway.
DPS Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb met with workers to hear their concerns.
“Employees have every right to be concerned as to how this change will impact them,” said Bobb. “Many of our employees have been with… Detroit Public Schools for many years, and it’s rightfully so on their part that they have issues and concerns… We have a responsibility to be very responsive and sensitive to those issues and concerns.”
DPS will sell its bus fleet, and Bobb projects more than $50-million in savings over the next five years. However, the drivers’ union has a different calculation.
“Are the savings that he projects going to be there? There will be some savings, certainly, but will they be of the magnitude that he projects? I don’t think so,” said David Sutton with Teamsters Local 14.
