Don't forget to move those clocks ahead. 

Somebody sent me these to post (but I don't know why ...)

Some of us who get calendars from non-public schools are wondering why they're not getting bus service on some of the days they're open during public school Easter vacation. Some have suggested that Pioneer doesn't want to give them the buses so they don't have to pay us double days. It's nothing that diabolical, folks, and Pioneer doesn't have that authority.

According to state law, non-public schools in NYC, (and only NYC), can choose 5 public school holidays per school year to have service. If they do not have service on some of the Easter vacation days, it's either because they are saving the day(s) for other holidays or have already used up their 5 days.

Enjoy the extra day(s) off!

According to PIST, there are still 1181 drivers and matrons who are being replaced by scabs at Tufaro (22) and Ray Fouche's companies (87) and made an appeal today to the city council to investigate. They're probably our strongest ally.

Jacob is no longer collecting for the junkyard lot (Roy's). In Jimmy Ledger's absence rent is being collected by Gary, bus 209 and MSG, bus 229.  Be sure to pay by or before Friday, March 8. No rent is due for February because Roy has a heart. (If you're looking for a spot there is a waiting list.)

What's up with Curve's parking? Wants February and March rent. People parked half of January and half of February. Greedy bastards!

Paul gets welcomed back with a donut. What made the kid think he would want a donut? (LOL ... just kidding, Paul)





Story here ... http://www.silive.com/westshore/index.ssf/2013/02/returning_driver_gets_a_donut.html

From Thursday's Daily News ...

Ernie has the last of the local's strike checks and will be distributing them tomorrow morning.

Also, sometime next week, the union will be giving us $100 per day for Monday and Tuesday ($200 total) to try to help compensate for those days until the matter is taken to arbitration.

Apparently, as it stands now, we are not getting paid for Monday and Tuesday. The matter will most likely go to arbitration.

Ernie says he needs the International's check receipt stub signed, dated and returned.

He will be picking up the local's checks tomorrow.

I'm hearing that the scab workers hired at several companies are permanent replacements and they're not taking their 1181 employees back ... either some or all, depending how many were replaced. Reliant is the biggest of these ... the figures I've heard are between 179 and 300 drivers/matrons who have been "replaced" there.

I honestly feel ... the longer we stayed out, the more of us would have been replaced around the city. Time was right to go back IMHO.

Another driver passed this article along. It's there in black-and-white. Sixth paragraph of the article linked below.

"He pointedly chastised the Democratic lawmakers sitting before him for failing to support his efforts to break the union representing striking school bus drivers, hinting that the officeholders were beholden to organized labor."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/nyregion/bloomberg-in-last-annual-address-cites-gains-and-goals.html?_r=1&

This is why we HAD to go back NOW. Given enough time, (with us on strike), he would have succeeded.

Bobby, who wishes to welcome everyone back, says OPT has been making some run changes while we were out.  Run sheets will be attached to our cards Wednesday ... be sure to check for any changes.

Nobody is getting service Tuesday.

There will be a list of non-public schools with their resume service dates posted in the window.

In today's Advance ...

"For decades, the monopolistic bus contract process benefited the bus companies and unions at the expense of the city's taxpayers and students -- but no longer," Bloomberg said. "Yesterday, I urged the union leaders to end the strike and made clear that the city would not be held hostage."

He thinks we went back for him? This guy's really got to get over himself.

Door somehow swings open while leaving driveway ... he/she doesn't know how to close it ...

Hint: First time I've ever seen him with anything on his head

This is the manual to which companies bidding on the 1150 runs were referred. (Bid #2192). Only had a chance to peruse it very quickly, but it kind of makes you wonder why anyone would want to operate a school bus company in this fu#ked-up city!

Apparently we are now required to carry a "Bus Sanitation Kit" including paper towels (specifically, "two eleven inch rolls of 2-ply") and spray cleaners. (I do have paper towels and cleaner already, but to be that specific? Ya gotta be fu#king kidding me!!!)


http://schools.nycenet.edu/DSS/SSOselection/BidSerialB2192_ContractorsManual.pdf

One of our strike captains along with a couple of other drivers cornered Vinny Ignizio the other day when he happened by the yard. He has agreed to do an interview (or was shamed into it) with NY1 tomorrow at 2890 between 10 and 11 a.m., possibly with Jimmy Oddo and Debbie Rose. The Advance and Daily News were also invited, uncertain if they will be there.