Hey guys, too much rhetoric, sounds like a bunch of old woman sitting around playing mahjong. Really, you got to be kidding, where does this information about the contract come from. I just don't get it. So much bitching, we shouldn't give this back, we shouldn't give that back, really, let's face it, there is going to be give backs, whether we like it or not. I don't like it, but lets be realistic, and all this bitching about the union. Hey guys, guess what, if we didn't have a union we probably would be out of a job by now. In case you didn't know it, the union saved your jobs. Bet you never heard that before. That's right, the union saved your jobs, there I said it again.  I know the strike was a disaster, but we made it a disaster. In case your forgot, the union didn't vote on a strike, we did. Hello.  We were weak, we even had people telling me that they were going to cross the picket lines. Others were calling me on my phone night after night, asking me to tell the union to end the strike. The union finally gave in to our demand and ended the strike. When we went back to work, we went back with an imposed contract, it was terrible, money coming out of our weekly salary, no accrual checks, no OT, now we had a worse situation than before, I had people telling me, I need my job, let them take this, and let them take that, as long as I have a job, but guess what, everyone went to work, everyone did their job, it was amazing, we had gone backwards, but everyone was doing an excellent job. Well the union sucked it up, took a deep breath and attacked the bleak situation, and I got to admit to you, the higher ups in the union were very skeptical, but never the less, went forward.  You may not have agreed on their strategy, and you may not liked their approach, but they won every court decision there was, in the NLRB, and Federal Court. So now after the union wins all these decisions,  all of a sudden we grow balls, we're all over the internet with demands, we don't want to give up anything, what a year will do, even bitching about trips, what the hell is that all about. It's too bad we just can't all be on the same page. Please wait for a contract to be offered to us, read it, study it, talk it over with your buddies, lets talk it over with everyone we work with, and if we don't like it, well  you know the rest. It's up to us, but remember,  it's YOUR decision not your friends, it's what is good for you and your family. Oh yeah, some of the people bitching, are people that would not opt back into the medical.

News From 1181, Yesterday August 20th, 2013,  the employers, and 1181 appeared before the Honorable Kiyo A. Matsumoto, US District Judge, for oral argument on the request for injunctive relief based on the unfair labor practice local 1181 filed. Judge Matsumoto demonstrated a strong familiarity with the issues, but did not issue a decision. Based on the argument, we believe there is a reason to be cautiously optimistic. 1181 will continue to call on the employers to return to the bargaining table to negotiate an agreement in good faith.

Hey, you want to know how to get back at ownership, opt back in to the medical plan. You will hit him right in the pocket. There will be a big move to try to get everyone back in when we get back to work. We do a lot of bellyaching, and rightfully so, but this is a good way to make a statement. Your talking about a lot of money, that just might get his attention. It's like playing chess, we make a move, they counter, well now is our move. Think about it.

Well the NLRB hearings have ended, the evidence has been presented by all sides, written arguments, are due in September.  Once they are heard the judge can issue a decision, once he decides. the union is continuing to seek an injunction from federal court, written arguments are to start next week and oral arguments are scheduled for August 20th. I do not know how long it would take for a judge to rule on that. Sorry I don't have more information on these matters, but to tell you the truth, that is about what's happening. We are in the hands of the attorneys, so this could be a long haul, the owners are going to take this matter as far as they can. All we can do right know is wait. Remember this, Pioneer is considered #1 in our industry, and the reason it's #1 is because of it's employees, we are top notch, we know it and the OWNER knows it, so when we go back in September, keep that in mind, we can keep up our high regard, or we can bring it DOWN.  Take care, if I hear any up dates on our current situation, I will surly inform you. Enjoy the rest of the summer,  Ya Right.

Hi from the world of the Unknown, a little bit of information on just what's going on with our current situation. I, along with Ernie have been going to the NLRB and getting interviewed by their attorneys. We actually went to the NLRB in Brooklyn on 4 different occasions, regarding the up coming hearings.  On 7/22/13 the NLRB hearings began. These hearings are being held at the NLRB Office, 120 West 45th. St. NYC. on the 14th Floor. These hearings are opened to the public if anyone is interested in attending. During that week, members of our union were called to the witness stand to testify. Among the people testifying were our President, our lead attorney, and myself, among other union members and officials. These hearings went on for five days.

This week they resumed on Monday 7/29/13, among those that will be testifying are various owners of the bus companies that are involved in the complaint, our owner included, and various Union officials, such as, the Vice President, delegates, and other union members. How long will these hearings last is anyone's guess. Know, this is important, when a ruling finally is reached, it's like this, if the ruling is in our favor, it doesn't mean that you would automatically  get what is coming to you, the judge can rule that the owners and the union have to go back to the table with no mention of any monies owed to the employee, or the Judge can rule that the owners and the union go back to the table and the owners have to give the employees all or some of the monies owed to them. Know after hearing all that, guess what, the owners have the right to appeal the decision 2 more times, so it looks like this NLRB CIRCUS, IS GOING TO GO ON QUITE A WHILE.

Know on the other hand, the union has filed an injunction in Federal Court on the same issues that we are in the NLRB with (unfair labor practice), this is a little different, because if a Judge in the Federal court rules in our favor, the owners must obey the ruling. Now that Judge can also rule a couple of different ways. Also the word is that the Federal Court Judge would like to rule on this issue before we go back to work.