St. LOUIS — Missouri Central Bus Driver Natasha Simmons resigned due to what she claims are instances of mistreatment in the workplace and feeling unsafe driving buses that she says are poorly maintained.
“My bus was not taken out of service. It still has an oil leak. So, I decided it was time to end because it was not safe for me,” said Natasha Simmons, a former Missouri Central bus driver.
Simmons claims that her bus had been leaking engine oil for over 2 months and that her bus tires were missing chunks of rubber. She shared this video, which she says is of the oil leak.
“You’ll write it up. Write it up. You’ll constantly write it up but nothing is being done about it,” said Natasha Simmons, a former Missouri Central Bus Driver.
Simmons says she endured mistreatment when asking for help.
“One morning I went to a Caucasian mechanic. I said, ‘I need batteries in my bus’ and he just walked away. So, the one African American, Mr. Jerry, helped me,” said Natasha Simmons, a former Missouri Central Bus Driver.
We spoke with the president of the NAACP St. Louis City branch about Simmons’ resignation.
“Natasha deserves to have equipment that the company provides that is in proper working condition. So, she can do her job and it just didn’t happen. And rather than risk her life and the lives of other people, she decided it was time for her to get away from that toxic and unsafe environment,” said Adolphus Pruitt, President of NAACP St. Louis City.
Pruitt claims that only 50 percent of Missouri Central Bus Company buses passed inspection this year.
In response, Missouri Central Bus Company said in part
“Missouri Central is in compliance with the State of Missouri regarding bus inspections. Every one of our buses in service must have a state certification sticker.”.
This is the third Missouri Central Bus Company employee who has expressed that they have allegedly encountered mistreatment in the workplace and that buses have not been properly serviced. Simmons said she resigned due to the overwhelming stress she has encountered with the alleged toxic work environment at Missouri Central Bus Company.