ST. LOUIS — ºüÀêÊÓƵ Public Schools canceled after-school activities on Monday after racial tensions among Missouri Central School Bus staff led to at least 100 drivers calling out of work.
“As you may have heard, there has been internal strife at Missouri Central over the last several days that has a racial component,†the district said in a message to parents Monday. “This alarming situation has now spilled over into Missouri Central’s work for SLPS.â€
The protest comes four days after Missouri Central mechanic Amin Mitchell said he found a noose at his workstation, which he claimed was a racist stunt used to intimidate him after he raised safety concerns at the company.
Mitchell, who is Black and has worked for Missouri Central for two months, said a supervisor asked him to make “Band-Aid†fixes to bus brake systems so they could pass inspection last Friday, despite Mitchell’s concerns that some brakes weren’t fully serviced and others needed to be replaced outright.
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“I told him I had to go an extra mile just to make sure the brakes were good,†Mitchell said. “He basically told me, ‘Don’t worry, don’t go the extra mile and just do what will pass inspection.’â€
The disagreement snowballed into an argument, which went all the way up to human resources and Missouri Central’s corporate office, Mitchell said.
“My son rides these buses. My nephews ride these buses,†Mitchell said. “So my passion and my purpose to come into work and make sure these brakes are done right is a little more than his.â€
In a statement, Missouri Central said it will hire an independent third party this week to investigate Mitchell’s and others’ allegations, and the company will take “whatever action is deemed necessary†based on the results.
“At Missouri Central, our policy is to provide and foster a work environment that is welcoming to all regardless of age, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation,†the company said in a statement. “There is zero tolerance for any behavior that violates this policy.â€
Early Thursday, Mitchell found a thin rope placed at his workspace when he came into work.
“That’s a message that says, ‘If you don’t stop doing what you’re doing, something bad is going to happen right away,’†Mitchell said.
According to multiple bus drivers, at least 100 drivers did not go to work Monday morning — in part because of Mitchell’s treatment, which was “the last straw.â€
Two bus drivers corroborated Mitchell’s allegations of racism and said their concerns also often go ignored, even when it pertains to vehicle safety. The drivers declined to share their names publicly.
The drivers are unionized through Laborers’ International Union of North America. Their contract does not allow them to strike, so they called in sick with “personal issues†Monday, the drivers said.
This the second school year Missouri Central has served ºüÀêÊÓƵ Public Schools.
It’s not the district’s first issue with the vendor.
In August 2022, the district had to suspend bus service for six high schools after Missouri Central failed to hire enough drivers to cover the district’s 16,500 students amid a nationwide driver shortage.
At least 60 bus routes were not covered Monday, according to district spokesman George Sells.
“SLPS’ No. 1 concern is always the safety of our students, and the expectation is that any vendor we work with, especially a transportation vendor, is providing the safest environment possible,†Sells said.
School administrators advised parents to be ready to make arrangements for school transportation Tuesday.
Missouri Central said it’s working to minimize service disruptions for students.
“We understand how important it is for our children to be educated,†the company said.