Robin Benedetto


Dear Speaker Quinn,
Thanks very much for responding so quickly. I agree that there are no winners in a school bus strike. The middle/lower income people who drive and who monitor on these buses will never replace their lost income. It hurts not only us but the office personnel who were laid off last week. The mechanics, employers, parents and especially the children are all negatively affected.
One of the 6 year old kids that I transport, asked me what a strike was.
We love our kids. We are dedicated people. Some routes have been serviced by the same driver for 20+ years. The parents trust in us. These are our kids the moment they step on our bus until we safely drop them off.
When I was looking for a job back in 1982, I had a small child and wanted a career where I could be off when my son was off and that offered a decent salary with benefits. I was told the pluses and negatives of the job of school bus driver and decided to sacrifice lower salary for more time available to be with my child. I knew that as I accrued more seniority, I would get more benefits. I did not consider this job choice to be a filler job like a cashier or fast food worker.
I became one the the instructors at the bus company and have trained hundreds of people to drive buses. I am also a State certified DMV article 19A examiner and SBDI who must test and train the drivers and attendants on a regular basis. It is a lot of work but is rewarding.
If this Mayor has his way, this job will become something people want as temporary until they get something better. The workers become transient, not permanent. It would no longer be a dignified career choice and will attract low talent, low wage earners, a 2nd rate job. Don't you think the employers want their companies to last? Why has Amboy Bus/Atlantic Express been in business and grown for so many years. Dedicated, safe, efficient workers who feel that they are part of a family within the company. This Mayor would destroy the morale of school bus employees. We are part of the social infrastructure of NYC. We are important and deserve to feel secure and settled in our career.
We have a huge responsibility to the parents and children. It is not easy, in the city of New York, to drive through Nor'easters, blizzards, floods, hurricanes, tornados, el Nino, blackouts and sheets of ice not to mention the TRAFFIC. Me and all the dedicated workers got our kids to school and home SAFELY! These parents rely on us. We love our jobs and our kids.
This mayor does not have a clue! Save money elsewhere.
How about making some changes in the way OPT (Office of Pupil Transportation) maps out these routes? Let more kids walk. Combine some routes.
Where is the money coming from for the "free" Metro cards and travel reimbursements? Oh, I guess it's my tax money...
How about those "rubber rooms" where all that taxpayer money is wasted? How about the compulsive spenders in our government, of which he is one. Or the people that suck off the taxpayers with their never ending unemployment (for which I will have to file). Welfare & social security disability for able bodied people that are a constant drain on our economy.
We are WORKERS! We get up at 4 AM or earlier every morning in order to be on time. It is 30+ years and I am still not used to getting up and going so early.
DEDICATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, COMPASSION
Remember, you get what you pay for.
Council Member Crowley marched with us last week. She said that if the Mayor wants experienced, skilled drivers, he has to be willing to pay for them. She said that the city's first priority must be keeping our school children safe and that begins and ends with experienced bus drivers and matrons. She also said that in this contract dispute, the city is more concerned with saving money than protecting our children
You ask what you can do to help. Convince the Mayor to get the school buses running while this dispute is being resolved and help him realize that a decent contract is important to all of us and that without some sort of employee protection, or some method of stabilizing seniority we become a group of disgruntled employees.
Sincerely,
Arlene Lancetta
-----Original Message-----
From: Speaker Christine C. Quinn <speakerquinn@council.nyc.ny.us>
To: arlance <arlance@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 23, 2013 5:46 pm
Subject: NYC Council

Dear Ms. Lancetta,
First, I want to thank you for many years of service working as a NYC school bus driver. Thirty-one years is an incredible amount of time. Congratulations.
As for the City's school bus strike, as I've stated publicly over the past week, there are no winners in a school bus strike.
I appreciate the importance of experienced workers such as yourself. But I also recognize the legal challenges related to employment protections.
Although the City Council has no role in this matter, I have urged all parties to step back and explore all options, including a possible solution in Albany, if needed, so that we may end the strike quickly. Thousands of hardworking families simply cannot afford to go through another day of this.
Thanks again for your dedication and service to our city, Ms. Lancetta. Like you and many other New Yorkers caught in the middle of this, I hope a resolution can be reached very soon.
If I can be of any further help to you, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council

PLEASE BE ADVISED:
You can yell,scream,shout..all that you want. However under no circumstances will you have ANY physical contact! We are not in that immature playground. This is an adult world and we are doing just as we are suppose to. The DRIVERS of Atlantic Express are NOT on strike. The MATRONS are. We need to act as professional Workers and not some thugs. That is EXACTLY what all are waiting for.

Please show them all we are better than that. Please understand those drivers were standing alongside us all along. However they were all given letters if they did not return to work they would be terminated.

Just an update, as everyone well knows there was a meeting with the contractors and the union. And they imposed a mediator to the talks. The mediator they set in place is Judge Mullens,who was the originator of the Mullen Agreement in 1979 and hopefully that can shine a little glimmer of light for us. The talks will resume tomorrow (according to the press).

Also, I have been in contact with some of our council people and looking forward to their support. They will be out on our strike lines hopefully sometime this week. There has been no change as of yet with our medical benefits. But please remember we must stand strong and try to overcome whatever obstacles are in our way.
Again please everyone contact emergency food stamps, emergency money for rents, and utilities. Check all agencies for help. And most of all let us please stand united in our fight with this horrible situation. Let's hope for the best in the days to come.

I applaud everyone for their dedication and perseverance on the strike lines. Remember All for one and one for all. We are in this battle together. Not one solider can win this war alone.1181 is Strong! Let's show them what we're made of!

God Bless you all
Ernie.

I know everybody is concerned, due to the rampant rumors that are flying through our strike lines.
Please understand we are fighting a very tough cause. I know that most people feel that they are not hearing enough from the higher ups of the union. But understand that at no time are we going to be left in the dark. We have very responsible people that are taking care of getting the word back to me.
Please if you have any questions, I absolutely have no problems giving or getting the answers for you. I am in contact several times a day with our local's leaders. I know there are a few people who mean well, but are guiding some of you in the wrong direction with the incomplete information .I know there are stories of Pioneer trying to hire new drivers, attendants and mechanics. But that is their obligation to the Dept Of Education to show that they are trying to get their buses on the road and fulfill their end of the contract with them.
We'll speak of Pioneer as an example, there are over 670 plus people that are employed by Pioneer. But you must understand that there is no possible way for them to find 670 plus people to fulfill our jobs to go out on the road anytime soon. So YES we have a tough fight. As I have said numerous times. Stay stead fast in our direction to win this fight.
And once again if there are any questions or doubts about something I will be glad to answer.

        As we all know, there was a meeting at the National Labor Relations board today. And each contractor had to testify before the labor relations board.
         I said earlier I was not sure we would get an answer before Friday, however I now believe we should have an answer no later than Friday. We have many contractors out there that are not 1181 drivers, they are from other locals ,91,355,companies like Atlantic Express  and some other companies who are trying to certify their drivers as matrons in a short amount of time. Which the board is allowing  a temporary change to the Laws of certification for matrons  .  The Dept of Ed is holding a 4 hour class    to certify drivers on an emergency basics. *NON 1181 drivers.* Normally  In order to be certified as a matron there is a City 10 hr course and  State 10 hr course that must be completed even before they board the bus, and yet they want to talk about the EPP being illegal!
I guess our mayor is going to great lengths to block us from what we deserve. We are having people notify the News to inform them of what they are doing. We  must get it out to everyone on all levels. Once again please stand tall. As I said before stay diligent in what we do. By standing together as one we will prevail.

Bless you all and have a good night.
Ernie

I will try to keep an update with you all as I find out.
As far as I know right now the contractors are meeting to testify today to the National Labor Relations board. I doubt very much if we are going to get an answer by this week's end. Hopefully we will hear by next week.
Please keep the faith and stay diligent and we will prevail.

          First I want to thank each and every one of you who participated in our event this morning at Atlantic express. I am very proud of the response and dedication I find behind me. We must stand tall and keep steadfast in our goal.
           I know that we had a couple of wrenches thrown at us and we feel like the walls are closing in on us. Please understand we must go forward and take on whatever obstacles are set in front of us. This will be the only way that we will prevail. Once again thank all of you for your support.

God bless You All.
Ernie

There is a rumor spreading about a rally tomorrow (1-22-13) going over the bridge to protest.
It is just a RUMOR!
Please brothers and sisters do NOT leave your striking posts unless you hear from ME,or your striking captain!
You are ALL doing a great job.We have to fight this TOGETHER!
God Bless You ALL.

Ernie.

City Hall - Stop Lying and Put Our Kids Safety 1st!



The City is lying to you about the cost and legality of the Employee Protection Provision (EEP), and is putting your child's safety at risk. Here's why:

•The EPP guarantees experienced school bus crews are behind the wheel of your child's school bus.

•The EPP is directly linked to safety, and was designed to create a steady, experienced work force. In fact, the City argued in court that:

"EPPs advanced accepted competitive bidding goals by...facilitating the use of proven, experienced workers, hence enhancing quality..."

•This bid solely targets special education children – children who require the experience that an EPP guarantees. In fact, the City argued in court that:

"...the desirable goal is best quality for lowest cost, as opposed to lowest cost in a vacuum. . . .providing transportation for very young disabled children, an unrelenting focus on the lowest cost is unrealistic and improper..."

•The EPP has nothing to do with cost. In fact, the City argued in court that: 

"EPPs. . .should be sustained because they promote the public bidding goals of obtaining the best possible services at the lowest possible costs."

•The EPP is not illegal. The City is hiding behind an unrelated Court of Appeals decision that does not apply to special education children. There has never been a court decision that has decided the legality of the use of the EPP when addressing the needs of special education children, and general education children. 

ATU Local 1181 supports a competitive bidding process. In fact, we welcome it, but we urge Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott to consider the safety of New York City school children by recognizing the importance of the EPP, and the safe experienced work force it creates. 

Sign the petition at www.nysaflcio.org/safety1st and text "Safety1st" to 877877

Please get as many people you can to sign this


http://nysaflcio.org/safety1st/

To All Pioneer Drivers,Matron,Mechanics.
        I want to thank everyone who felt it was important to attend the Sunday rally. It shows how important our jobs are and the concern for ours jobs in the future. We need to stay strong and stay united in this tough and trying time. I myself can only pass on to everyone what I have been told. Which as you all know has not been very much. I know there are many questions. And I promise to answer as many as I can with the information they are giving me.

        I do hear the many concerns and questions that our Pioneer drivers, matrons and mechanics have. I will do my best to get whatever news or information out to the Pioneer family. I do know one of the concerns are.*Will we have medical on strike* the answer is YES. We have a reserve of at least a few months. Another question is * How much will we get from the Union and the International*? The answer is $ 150.00 from the International, after the second week. Also $ 150.00 from the Union, after the first week. We are working from our Seniority list for the hours our Pioneer People will be walking the strike line. There are 32 Strike Captains that will be taking attendance on all shifts which will be covering a 24 hour period 7 days a week.Each person walking a strike line will be working 6 hour shifts 5 days per week. In this way you will be paid by the International and Union. All strike workers whether driver, matron or mechanic will receive the same amount of pay.

        Please feel free to ask me any questions. I will do my best to get you answers and results. And if I don't have them, I will try and get them for you. I will be checking the internet daily in case of any questions I need to answer.

Thank you for your time and support. Remember we are all in this together. Again thank you for turning out when it is necessary. Also remember this is a BATTLE that we ALL must fight to secure OUR future.

Respectfully
Ernie