Now that he's gone will our Leadership knock on the new Governor's door with regards to an EPP?

Stopped by the yard today to drop off my medical and was talking to Bobby. He told me there is going to be some kind of new thing on the buses when each child gets on he has to swipe something that automatically lets the board of Ed know that that child is on the bus and if he doesn't have his ID card then you have to program his name in. Each driver has to go into the drivers room every morning and get some kind of phone or something. Maybe Buzz can get the specifics of whatever the hell it is. I see a lot of guys retiring.

Unemployment ... no snags
Two separate deposits in my banking account this morning
$504 + $300

As another school year comes to an end I just want to give a Big Thanks to Buzz for this site and keeping us informed as much as possible to job related and other matters!
Enjoy ur Summer!!!!!

So sorry to hear of the passing of fellow driver Angelo. The nicest, most pleasant family man one could ever meet. May God be with his family and may he Rest In Peace.

Sadly I want to let everyone know that our good friend and fellow former driver Paul Castaldo passed away earlier today.

FYI
According to the NYS Making Progress Happen - Coronavirus Update
Dated 01/08/2021
Starting Monday NYS will begin scheduling vaccinations for "Phase 1b" groups.
Included in that group is school-bus drivers.

As of this morning I still didn't get my 2nd stimulus check but I've spoken to two drivers and four family (not immediate) members that got theirs yesterday.

If you have direct deposit check ur bank accounts. Last week's pay is in the bank.

Senior members with direct deposit, check your bank accounts your Christmas adjustment pay should be in there. Mine is.

Voluntary COVID-19 testing at SI yard tomorrow and Bronx yard Tuesday. Check ur emails.

Happy to see that we got our $50 cleaning allowance. Now all we need is our $100 (driver) and $65 (attendant) uniform allowance that is owed to us to get uniforms in order to use the cleaning allowance. He doesn't abide to the contract for our uniforms but pays us the $50 to clean them! You can't make this shit up!!!!

We're going into our 6th week back to work and I don't hear any talk about Steve coming in to take uniform orders that we are owed!!!

Since we are only getting 85% pay for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I'd assume it's not one of our 39 Guaranteed weeks but I've learned not to assume anything?!?!?!?

Curiosity will Steve be coming in during the first couple of weeks? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think we ordered our uniforms before we got Furloughed.

I've been driving a school bus for 17 years and unfortunately I've always "literally" felt & feel that when it comes to the entire school system that us drivers & matrons are always at the bottom of the barrel. Principals, teachers, paras, janitors, school safety officers, etc., are always considered as essential but we are considered expendable. Yet, anytime there is an article about schools (even if it doesn't pertain to transportation) in the newspaper, on the internet or on the nightly news broadcast there is always a picture of a school bus. Just something to think about!

Over the past few months I've seen posts by myself & fellow members with concerns of many things such as accrual & opt out checks, unemployment, health benefits, safety protocols, health insurance, when & if school will reopen, Special Ed & General Ed runs, etc., etc.. Obviously all legit and worthy concerns. Many of us besides venting and expressing our concerns have done what we can to help ourselves & this local. I've come to the realization that all of these concerns are basically out of our hands and it's now a waiting game. Having said this lets just thank God that WE WOKE UP this morning. There are many that didn't! Stay safe and hopefully I'll see you soon.

For those of you who may not get emails from 1181 I just received an email that directs us to sign a petition to a few different politicians with regards to the CERTS act which is money for school bus companies. I don't know how to post it here but I'm sure Buzz will do it. Please do it and sign the petition it can't hurt. I wish they would have put something like this out two months ago when I was asking people to call politicians.

Well it's official. The Governor has given his okay. So apparently public schools will be reopening on September 10 unless and God forbid there is a spike in the virus before then. I would assume by the last week of August at the very latest we will know exactly what the story is with school busing.

I heard some possible good news.
Hoyt started giving their employees safety classes!