Pondering our predicament and my experience of the past week, a comparison of the different kinds of people in this world came to mind.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there were 7 to 9 people on any given day who volunteered through the Siller (Tunnel to Towers) Foundation, putting up insulation and sheetrock in my house (donated by Siller and Pastor Steve of Movement Church). They were all retired folks (including 2 women) mostly in their 60's, all of them experienced ... a couple from being in the trade, others from having volunteered previously with Habitat for Humanity.

They could have been relaxing and enjoying their well-deserved retirement in their homes ... some from right here on Staten Island, to as far away as Virginia and Florida. Instead, they were here, helping me restore my house, sleeping at night on air mattresses in Moravian church. They worked so meticulously, so conscientiously, so intently ... and most of all so cheerfully ... that there was no doubt it was truly a labor of love. Their faces and demeanor showed that there was joy in their hearts to be able to do their good deed. It was as if it was their privilege to be here.

At the other end of the spectrum there are millionaire contractors. Greedy, shameless, concerned only with increasing their own wealth. Their money will prevent them from ever needing ... or having the blessing of knowing ... people such as I met this week. It's doubtful you'd ever see one of them doing for anyone what those people did for me this week or sleeping in a church basement. Sure, they could relieve their guilt and pat themselves on the back and convince themselves they've done some good for people by donating to charity ... but even that will be with partly ill-gotten money glommed from honest, middle-class working people trying to make ends meet ... the very people who make them their millions.

Yep, the difference in people is absolutely astounding.

(Posted upon request)

The end of the year party will be at Z-Two (in-door/out-door) in the Charleston Shopping Center.

Date: Wed., June 26
Time: 3-7 p.m.
Buffet: Chicken Francaise, Sliced steak, Tilapia oreganato, mussels, clams, calamari, penne vodka, vegetables, potatoes and salad
Drinks: Open Bar
Music: Live band - "Pioneers of Rock"
Cost: $50 Per Person
Deadline: June 14 (No money at the door!)

At Arthur Kill get tickets from:
Carol 202
Deborah 704
Mike 366
Jacob 300
Janice 9404
Freddy 937

At Sharrotts get tickets from:
Anita 814
Sue 880
Geralyn 476


(Please Note: I could not get a definitive answer as to whether there would be mud wrestling and/or wet T-shirt contest.  )

Last I knew, if you use a spare you're supposed to:

1) Fuel it (regardless of how much is in the tank)
2) Sweep it (especially if a broom is ON the bus)
3) Regen it

None of those things were done by the previous driver on the spare I used today. A total lack of consideration for the coworker who will be the next user when you don't do those things.

As a result, I was on line with 2 buses (simultaneously) in the p.m., not having time to fuel either my own or the spare in the a.m. because number 3 above was not done. I will not say which spare or who was the previous driver because I know it applies to more than one.

(Thanks to the driver who eventually offered to take the spare to the pumps. Was working up a sweat running back and forth between the 2 buses ... LOL)

These links are being reposted upon request (old links have been changed):


Road Test ... http://www.dmv.ny.gov/forms/ds875.pdf

Defensive Driving Report ... http://www.dmv.ny.gov/forms/ds873.pdf

Unusually creative for K-Mart ... a very funny commercial ...

The delegates and shop stewards held a demonstration today at city hall led by councilman Robert Jackson. It was to emphasize that Bloomberg was deemed a liar by the city's own attorneys when they said the EPP is legal. Talk about wanting to have it both ways!

Posted at Andy's request:

Your report time is the time on your run sheet. It is the same as your start time. It is the time from which you start getting paid.

Therefore, it is the time at which you start your 10-minute pre-trip inspection.

Therefore, you should not be leaving the yard until 10 minutes AFTER your start time.

Any questions?

If you missed all the inspectors at the front of the yard you can always tell there's a yard inspection IF ...




... This guy is wearing a tie ...

Three buses will be going to the meeting Thursday.

Bus 1 will leave yard at 5:15, go down Richmond Ave. then left on Hylan Blvd. to bridge
Bus 2 will leave yard at 5:15, stop at Bradley Ave. & service Rd., then stop at the monument by the bridge.
Bus 3 will leave yard at 5:30 and go directly to the meeting (non-stop).

Meeting is at Christ the King high school,6802 Metropolitan Ave. at 7:30.

A lot of us, including myself, have done our share of playing Monday Morning Quarterback regarding the strike and and the events of the  ensuing weeks. Many have been critical of the union and have done a fair share of second-guessing decisions made and strategies followed. I guess we are entitled to this to a certain extent in view of our jobs, livelihoods, financial security and futures being at stake.

I had the privilege of having a fairly lengthy phone conversation with our president this afternoon, with our VP also within earshot. (It was kind of like a private telephone town hall meeting ... LOL) Michael was cordial and unpretentious and remarkably understanding and responsive to questions and criticism. (Yeah ... I had a couple of those!)

Too many topics were covered for me to even attempt to relay them here. I could not quote him word-for-word and would not want to chance misquoting Michael or inadvertently distorting anything he said. I don't want to risk being inaccurate or misleading, in fairness to all of you as well as Michael. I can tell you that Michael was very forthcoming with explanations as to why this or that was done, and why such and so wasn't.  Everything we talked about, including plans for moving forward, will be addressed in Thursday's meeting, as will your questions.

Michael realizes that a lot of people are angry at him (perhaps unfairly so, I suggest) and confessed that this is the most difficult time of his life. Yet he remains optimistic that satisfactory results are attainable, and he is determined to persevere. He is not giving up on us, and we cannot give up on him. However, he CANNOT do it alone. He is only one person. He needs the support of each and every one of us and for us to be single-minded in purpose.

In a union of over 8000 people, there are bound to be almost as many opinions as to what should be done about this, that or the the other thing. There's nothing wrong with people having their own opinions, but there has to be commonality in objectives and unity in action if we're to come out of our predicament intact.

I think we need to enter Thursday's meeting not with scorn or contempt, but with a willingness to listen, ask, learn and reach a unified consensus, then back our leaders and EACH OTHER to the hilt. We put our leaders where they are, and we need them now more than ever to do the the jobs we elected them for. Whether we agree with everything or everybody or not, we must move together organized and in one direction from this point on. To do anything else would be suicide.   

Just a reminder to those to whom it applies ... today's the day to claim unemployment.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to my christian friends and coworkers ... and why shouldn't it be? For one day let us forget all that we are up against, and all that we are, or will be, without and the injustices we have to endure. Instead, on Easter, let us celebrate Jesus dying for our sins and rising again to take his seat on the right hand of God to be our Lord and Savior.

... And no man can take that away from us ... no matter how much money he has.

This topic has been moved to Work Related.

http://1181drivers.com/smf/index.php?topic=650.0

Probably like most of you, this forced contract ... or edict ... has, for the most part, consumed my thoughts for the past week. We've all felt the angst and anger. But mulling it over as much as I have, I've come to the conclusion that this is a contrived move on the part of the contractors. I don't think they expect it to stick ... or ever really intended it to. I don't know why they've adopted this particular strategy ... that's anyone's guess ... but I believe this is only a move toward their end game ... whatever that may be.

There are too many pieces of the puzzle missing to put it all together, too much we don't know to make sense of it, but I really think it's a ruse of some sort. The contract changes are so outrageous, so intentionally egregious, (I believe), that I think they know they cannot and will not stand up to legal muster, and they've known that all along. It is, nonetheless, a very cruel way to go about it, and the end will not justify the means. They are just too damaging and hurtful.

I may be completely wrong ... in which case, yes, I will take some salt on that crow ... or I may just be in denial of the whole thing. But I really think it's not over and I'll postpone final judgement and wait until the smoke clears before I start for calling for Neil's balls on a meat hook.

Just my humble opinion.

Just as with Presidents Week, we're only getting paid for the 3 days we work next week.

Also, it is not yet known if last week's pay will be available this week or next week.

If you notice on this week's pay stub, our YTD earnings went up TWO weeks pay from last week ... the second being the Easter accrual we didn't actually get. Taxes, FICA and union dues went up 2 weeks worth too. The question is, where does money deducted from pay we never received actually go? 

Thanks to the driver who passed this link along from the NLRB site ... http://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/employerunion-rights-obligations


Note especially ...

"It is an unfair labor practice for either party to refuse to bargain collectively with the other, but parties are not compelled to reach agreement or make concessions."

and ...

"The parties' obligations do not end when the contract expires. They must bargain in good faith for a successor contract, or for the termination of the agreement, while terms of the expired contract continue."

And last but not least ...

"Conduct away from the bargaining table may also be relevant. For instance if an Employer were to make a unilateral change in the terms and conditions of employees employment without bargaining, that would be an indication of bad faith."



Somebody's got some 'splaining to do.

Although the 2013-14 calendar (link below) shows Mid-Winter Recess as being Feb. 17 - 21, a teacher I know says they were informed recently that schools will only be closed that Monday and Tuesday, courtesy of Emperor Bloomberg.

Teachers are also working without a contract and this could change with a new administration and/or contract.

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D45BBFC5-BB4E-4C6B-ACE7-F7E15D8AA1BE/0/20132014SchoolYearCalendarFinalDraft3613.pdf

Because numerous drivers have requested it, all drivers and matrons who do not have a trip on Thursday are to return after the morning run. Ernie was asked, and will be there, to address our concerns. I will assume you know the nature of this meeting and, as most of you have done with the previous post on this subject, and due to the sensitivity thereof, please refrain from making comments or asking questions here.

(I apologize to those of you whose posts I deleted on the other thread about accrual checks and trust my explanation in the PM I sent most of you was satisfactory.)