Some of our members, particularly the anti-incumbents factions, seem to be suffering undue consternation over the "Most Favored Nation" clause in our contract. Essentially, all this clause does is prevent 1181 from organizing a bus company contracted with the DoE by agreeing to lesser pay or benefits than other 1181, DoE-contracted companies currently have.
How this prevents the union from doing so is thus: If the union were to enter into such an agreement they would have to let other contractors renegotiate their contracts with the union to the terms that are more favorable to themselves. The union would never do this, for obvious reasons, but the contractors wanted that clause in there for reassurance.
Why, you ask? You have to realize that outside of NYC, 1181 contracts with individual school districts and each one may have different rates of pay and benefits, and few, if any, fare as well as we do. Contractors here just wanted to make sure that the same would not be done with other companies who contract with the DoE. That's all.
It's as simple as that. There is nothing sinister or diabolical about it. It has nothing to do with bids, and it does not rewrite the Mollen agreement. It does protect the contractors, but not without first protecting us.
If you have heard explanations other than this, it is for one of two reasons: (1) The person talking to you does not understand what the clause means, or (2) that person was intentionally trying to deceive you to suit their own agenda.
How this prevents the union from doing so is thus: If the union were to enter into such an agreement they would have to let other contractors renegotiate their contracts with the union to the terms that are more favorable to themselves. The union would never do this, for obvious reasons, but the contractors wanted that clause in there for reassurance.
Why, you ask? You have to realize that outside of NYC, 1181 contracts with individual school districts and each one may have different rates of pay and benefits, and few, if any, fare as well as we do. Contractors here just wanted to make sure that the same would not be done with other companies who contract with the DoE. That's all.
It's as simple as that. There is nothing sinister or diabolical about it. It has nothing to do with bids, and it does not rewrite the Mollen agreement. It does protect the contractors, but not without first protecting us.
If you have heard explanations other than this, it is for one of two reasons: (1) The person talking to you does not understand what the clause means, or (2) that person was intentionally trying to deceive you to suit their own agenda.
