7.5%? With everything else that's being taken away it's closer to 20% ... more for some people.

Suspending the payments was asking too much. Should have just said you didn't like the contract and that you would be imposing your own and would be sending 25% less every month. I'm sure they would have understood.

Quote from: terminator on March 28, 2013, 06:00:14 AM
Maybe he thinks it is easier to replace drivers than mechanics. There has to be a reason for this. Nothing is done by chance anymore - it is all calculated!

Truthfully, it is easier to replace drivers than mechanics. Very difficult to hire even a class 2 man at what they pay, let alone class 1. You see what they hire ... kids ... "helpers" ... and hopefully they become mechanics with years of on-the-job-training. Whereas within a few weeks/months anybody can become a bus driver.

Still, the word is that some companies (probably including ours) are looking to reduce their summertime shop personnel. (They feel they don't really need as many mechanics when a small percentage to zero buses are running.) Would have been in their long-term best interest to show unity, but I can understand how it would be hard to say "No thanks" to somebody waving a check in your face.

Is it just a coincidence they picked the same day your taxes have to be in?

Did your friend ever hear the saying "Divide and conquer?" Does he feel accepting the checks showed unity? Will he feel the same when he finds out he or some of his coworkers may get laid off for the summer months? Did you tell him "Beware of contractors bearing gifts?"

Quote from: rc1790 on March 27, 2013, 09:52:55 PM
are they single or double day?

Double? I don't think so!

By the way, these checks are for THIS week. Last week will be paid NEXT week ... but I don't know why.

Quote from: Stugots on March 27, 2013, 05:10:50 PM
For guys who get accrual checks, he has to pro-rate it at the end of the year, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, 2012.     

As we're finding out, what he has to do and actually does are not the same thing.

Quote from: Stugots on March 27, 2013, 05:10:50 PMAlso, if the union is going to lose 2,000 members than we don't need that many people on the Executive Board.   

Now, THAT is a noteworthy comment!!

Quote from: 4real on March 27, 2013, 03:32:39 PM
I wanna know where our union is??? Whats going on? what are they doing about this? Are they taken them to court becouse there is a C B A isnt there? PLEASE GIVE US ANSWERS OUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE, NO MORE BULLSHIT GIVE US STRAIGHT ANSWERS, ARE WE FUCKED OR NOT, COME ON CORDILLO WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON??? SOME OF US LIVE PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK!!!!!ANSWERS PLEASE

They've gone to the NLRB and will in turn go to court. Also, Ernie and Andy are filing their own NRLB complaint on behalf of Pioneer employees. We all want quick fixes but he wheels of justice turn slowly.

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.

Quote from: terminator on March 25, 2013, 05:32:14 AM
Buzz...you have ALWAYS been objctive and fair usually at the expense of being called an ass kisser...I dont think you tried to divide with your comment...it is just about the math.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, terminator.

(And I think we still have to conduct ourselves with a "modicum" of civility ... LOL)

Quote from: mirrorcheck on March 24, 2013, 12:00:38 PM
...who is to say he doesnt get extended yet again atthe same rate...maybe more ?

You're right on with that one. A company like Pioneer stands an excellent chance of exactly that.

Well, being able to vent our anger and frustration here, in a relatively passive way, is far better than the alternatives, I'm sure.

All I can say is that I'm usually willing to give a person the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately however, when they remove the doubt by their own volition, it becomes virtually impossible to remain objective ... equally unfortunate. I am more disappointed and personally offended than I can say.

Quote from: hognol on March 24, 2013, 02:52:56 PM
Does this mean he actually paid us Easter week but did not distribute the checks?

Well, it means the checks were actually cut and waiting ... that's how the shop got theirs.

Also, will the extra week's pay be included in our gross pay on 2013's W-2?

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?