East St. Louis school bus drivers say unresolved issues could impact students

Illinois Central School Bus drivers who transport East St. Louis students to and from school are asking District 189 to intervene in what they allege are breaches of their union contract.

Several current and former drivers from Illinois Central’s Caseyville facility gathered outside the district administration building Monday with megaphones and signs, alleging multiple issues with the bus company, including unfair pay and a failure to follow grievance procedures.

The demonstrators said they do not plan to strike, as their current union contract prohibits it. However, Marsha Jones, a former Illinois Central employee and the Caseyville site’s union steward, said the problems could result in students spending more time on buses if left unaddressed.

East St. Louis School District 189 contracts with Illinois Central to provide transportation for students; drivers are employed by Illinois Central, not the district. This means the district has no authority to intervene in matters involving Illinois Central employees, spokesperson Sydney Stigge-Kaufman said.

“We hope for a swift resolution between Illinois Central and its drivers so that our students can receive safe and timely transportation to and from school,” Stigge-Kaufman said.

But Jones believes the district has some influence.

“We want the district to hold Illinois Central accountable,” Jones said. “The district hired Illinois Central, so they do have a say because they are the customer.”

The drivers are members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788. They say they are looking to the district for help because they feel there is nowhere else to turn.

The Belleville News-Democrat reached out to Illinois Central School Bus Regional Operations Manager Scott Allen about the drivers’ claims. He responded with a statement saying the company is committed to its employees, contractual obligations, the families it serves, and to safely and reliably transporting students.

“We remain in close communication with District 189 leadership and are actively monitoring the situation to ensure that students continue to have uninterrupted access to the educational opportunities they deserve,” the statement said. “We are committed to transparency, collaboration and working together to fulfill our shared mission.”

Possible Student Impact

Although the current collective bargaining agreement between Illinois Central and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788 prohibits employees from striking, Jones said unresolved issues could impact students in other ways.

Jones estimates Illinois Central has lost 15 to 20 of approximately 70 drivers who serve District 189 students since the start of the school year, either through resignations or firings. Remaining drivers may need to take on more work due to short staffing, which could mean students spend more time on the bus, Jones said.

Stigge-Kaufman said the district has experienced a shortage of drivers over the past two years, affecting student pickup and drop-off times. The issue affects bus companies nationwide, she said.

“The district is actively collaborating with Illinois Central to address these challenges, including offering financial incentives to recruit new drivers and retain existing staff,” Stigge-Kaufman said.

“We understand the difficulties this nationwide driver shortage has created for students and families, particularly following the return to in-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our commitment remains to work diligently with Illinois Central to minimize disruptions and ensure reliable transportation for our students.”

Jones outlined the drivers’ complaints in interviews with the News-Democrat, which also obtained a copy of their union contract.

Drivers Say Illinois Central Doesn’t Pay Fairly

Jones said the contract includes a “two-hour guarantee for all pieces of work.” This means any work drivers perform outside their regular routes—such as sporting events or field trips—should be paid at their regular hourly rate for at least two hours, even if it takes less time.

But demonstrators said the company doesn’t always adhere to this rule. Some drivers, who declined to be named due to fear of retaliation, said they have waited a week for missing pay.

Illinois Central Not Accepting Grievances, Drivers Say

According to the union contract, an employee and union steward begin the formal grievance process by presenting the issue to the contract manager.

But Jones and others who demonstrated Monday said the contract manager told them months ago that the company is “not accepting any more grievances.”

Charmel Elbert, an Illinois Central driver, said she has a year’s worth of grievances that have never been addressed.

“They just swept it under the rug like it doesn’t matter,” Elbert said.

Bus Drivers Say Company Doesn’t Recognize Seniority

Before the school year starts, drivers “bid” on available routes according to seniority. The contract says routes should be assigned on that basis, along with the ability to handle the work.

But multiple drivers said there was an error in this year’s bidding process and that the most senior drivers weren’t given the first opportunity to re-bid their routes.

Drivers Fear Retaliation for Speaking Out

Jones said she believes Illinois Central retaliated against her after she had a verbal altercation with a manager and took her concerns to senior management.

She initially filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in November and amended it in late February. The complaint lists multiple allegations, including bad faith bargaining, coercive statements, retaliation and more.

The complaint has yet to be resolved.

This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM.