Strike?

Aug 17

The newest updates are first, except from 8/18 - 9/1 it jumps around, and the petition needs to stay up high.

En https://www.pistnyc.org/resources/huelga hay información en español y habrá más en esos dias.

PETITION is live!

Please help our NYC public school students by signing our petition to Demand the Mayor and Department of Education Meet Their Responsibility to Transport our NYC Students to School

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/1a6ba14d6a3bd07741a0a8e44795d34ceeb60947

Update as of Oct 5

Reminder: The NYCPS (DOE) Chancellor is the one to approve or reject the pay proposal for school bus attendants (AKA matrons). Their work with students with disabilities merits a respectful raise!! The Office of Labor Relations and Office of Management and Budget have influence on the non-profit NYCSBUS which will negotiate when the agreement reaches its next stage.

Feel free to express yourself to these parties on the need for fair contracts for ALL school bus workers:

*Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion

https://www.nyc.gov/site/olr/about/email-the-commissioner.page

Message Type: Misc. Comments

Message Topic: NYC Employee Union/Job Issue Or Other

*Office of Management and Budget Director Jacques Jiha, Ph.D.

https://www.nyc.gov/site/omb/contact/send-a-message-to-budget-director.page

@JihaJacques https://twitter.com/JihaJacques

NYC Public Schools officials

*Schools Chancellor David C. Banks

NYCChancellor@schools.nyc.gov PHONE: (212) 374-6000 @DOEChancellor

Mayor Eric Adams

https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page

Message Topic: Education Or Transportation

212-788-3000 @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCMayor

Office of Pupil Transportation Contracts/Fleet Operations James Sarkis

jsarkis@schools.nyc.gov 718-707-4572

Deputy Chancellor of Operations and Finance/ COO Emma Vadehra

evadehra@schools.nyc.gov

First Deputy Chancellor Daniel Weisberg (oversees areas including Labor, Human Relations)

<DWeisberg@schools.nyc.gov>

Sample commentary:

As [a parent/guardian of NYC school bus riders…a parent leader in District x…an educator…an advocate/organization concerned with Disability Justice…a City employee…],

I/we urge you to approve the wage increase proposal from ATU 1181-1061 for the school bus attendants.

These (mostly women) workers provide a Related Service for students with disabilities who must have Specialized Transportation in order to receive an appropriate education under Federal civil rights laws IDEA and Section 504.

Anything that compromises the stability of the yellow bus workforce harms our students' attendance and well-being – whether it's for one day, the duration of a potential strike, or for five more years of attrition and turnover. If you believe that everyone deserves equal access to education, show it by investing in respectful compensation for the school bus attendants.

Disruptions to mandated transportation impact parent job security and the local economy. If school bus attendants do not receive compensation to meet living expenses, their spending power and the taxes they pay will be lower. The City pays high legal fees when sued for violations of the Transportation section of IEP contracts - violations which would surge in the case of a strike but could be prevented by full, uninterrupted staffing of bus routes. When wages and benefits do not cover rent, grocery and medical costs for these essential workers, other government agencies have to take up the burden.

9/21/23 press release from ATU 1181 listing some of the items in the tentative agreement and thanking allies including parents & PIST — ATU Local 1181-1061 Press Release on the tentative agreement reached at most but not all of the companies. In return for these promises the union leaders will not be calling a strike at those companies. However the members have the last word on whether to vote yes or no to finalize the agreement as a contract. In addition NYCSBUS and 2 smaller companies still need to negotiate with ATU.

Statement from the Amalgamated Transit Union for the United States and Canada on 9/20/23 about the tentative agreement at several NYC school bus companies. — “New York City School Bus Worker Strike Averted, ATU Local 1181 Reaches Strong Tentative Agreement with Five Major School Bus Providers. Union Reaches a Deal for the Sake of Students and Parents.”

Reminder - Parents can still lean on NYCSBUS leadership, and the OPT execs who basically tell them what to do with the DOE's own money. phone ((718) 389-4241) or use https://www.nycsbus.com/contact

Sept. 20, 2023 The news leaked an agreement in principle involving most owners, but not NYCSBUS.
ATU 1181 confirms that members will have the final say.

Article: https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/09/20/school-bus-drivers-reach-tentative-agreement-avoid-strike/

Parents to Improve School Transportation are cautiously optimistic for a settlement with an attractive wage structure to turn around the staff shortages and stop the harm caused to children by doubled up Bus routes. We hope that the members and leaders of ATU 1181 come out of this process empowered to help parents make systematic policy changes through the School Bus Bill of Rights campaign.

September 9, 2023 Labor parade on Fifth Avenue. PIST members & friends walked and rode in the school bus union contingent with signs.
Photo credit: Monica Roman — More images at www.pistnyc.org/events/laborparade2023

Sept 8 Brooklyn mom and D75 advocate Celia Green was interviewed on News 12 about how useless the metrocards and car services were in the 2013 strike

https://bronx.news12.com/school-bus-strike-wont-happen-on-monday-chancellor-says

Screen shot (1 of 2) some parents caught of the information shared at one District 75 school on Sept 8. Hard to read, will try to get this in another format ASAP.
We highlighted the part about how if you want reimbursement for transporting a D75 student, an adult must accompany them. The rest is not new, there is still no clarity on how often parents have to go look for the Metrocards and whether they will get you from school A to school B to get the next sibling…

Screenshot 2 of 2. We highlighted:
(a) the new provision that we had proposed August 23rd to allow bus paras to ride in rideshare if there’s no bus, so they can get paid and the parent can go to work.
(b) the steps to making the NYCSA Schools Account work for you once you have a code, which is more than the DOE website bothers to do.

Photo of 10 people (mainly women)of many cultures and complexions standing with raised fists and smiling. One member of the group holds a placard calling for: Better Pay and Employee Protection Provisions to Retain School Bus Drivers, signed PIST NY — click photo for Alternative Text image description

Above: After our Sept 5 rally outside the NYCPS headquarters.

Photo credit: Lizette Colon

Best coverage: https://bronx.news12.com/school-bus-strike-wont-happen-on-monday-chancellor-says

Visit https://www.pistnyc.org/events/sept5rally for more photos, links to more TV coverage, and a press release that features important comments by parents, educators and the NYC Public Advocate.

PIST preliminary statement on potential for a school bus workers’ strike:

Parents are watching these negotiations because the transportation of our children depends on having a stable workforce.

The school bus companies have had 10 years of taking profits out of the wages/benefits of new hires, without investing it in vehicle repairs or anything that benefits the riders. If they don't make moves to restore the living standards of drivers and attendants, our families will keep having delays and hardship. If a strike happens now, it's on them for putting profits ahead of Education and disability rights.

Safety for the Children, Justice for the Workers!

— Parents to Improve School Transportation NYC http://pistnyc.org

Note: Check with parent leaders for realistic contingency plans and how to boost the ATU 1181's contract wishes. We have serious doubts about what is being promised from Tweed: the rideshare for summer barely worked; people wait > 6 months for reimbursement; metrocard does not suffice for students with certain disabilities

Declaración preliminar del PIST sobre la posibilidad de una huelga de trabajadores de autobuses escolares:

L@s madres y padres de familia están atentos a estas negociaciones porque la transportación de nuestros hijos depende de tener una fuerza laboral estable.

Las empresas de autobuses escolares han tenido 10 años de sacar beneficios de los salarios/prestaciones de los nuevos empleados, sin invertirlo en reparaciones de vehículos ni nada que beneficie a los pasajeros. Si no se toman medidas para restaurar el nivel de vida de los conductores y asistentes, nuestras familias seguirán teniendo retrasos y dificultades. Si ocurre una huelga ahora, es culpa de ellos por anteponer las ganancias a la educación y los derechos de discapacidad.

¡Seguridad para los Niños, Justicia para los Trabajadores!

— Padres y madres para mejorar el transporte escolar (PIST NYC) http://pistnyc.org

Nota: verifique con los padres líderes los planes de contingencia realistas y cómo impulsar los deseos de contrato de ATU 1181. Tenemos serias dudas sobre lo que se promete desde Tweed: el viaje compartido para el verano apenas funcionó; la gente espera > 6 meses para el reembolso; metrocard no es suficiente para estudiantes con ciertas discapacidades

Let the school bus companies know how you feel about them refusing to make a better offer:

These are the ones that we know for sure are in labor contract talks:

Consolidated (Boro Transit, SNT Bus, A&J)

Customer service Phone: 718-346-9600

Email: consolidatedbus@cbttrans.com

President: Neil Mancuso- cell number- 917-843-5405- nmancuso@cbttrans.com

Owner- Jodi Genovese- 347-384-8845-Jodi.genovese@cbttrans.com

NYC School Bus Umbrella Services

Contact form https://www.nycsbus.com/contact

Phone: 718-389-4241
Email: information@nycsbus.com

CEO Matt Berlin mberlin@nycsbus.com

Pioneer Transportation

Owner: Neil Strahl n.strahl@pioneerbus.com

Customer service: Phone: 718-984-8077

Email: pioneer@pioneertransportation.com

IC

718-448-4006
ICBus@aol.com
Owner: James Sabatelli

Customer service Phone: 718-448-4006

Hoyt

718-665-3019

Vice President: Chris J Termini- 951-245-6010 CJT@hoyttransportation.net

Joseph Termini- cell phone ( 917)-885-1736

Mariel mitkowski-HR: mmitkowski@hoyttransportation.net

Grandpa’s

718-276-7100
joejr@loganbus.com
Owner: Richard Logan Jr.

Bobby's

718-276-7100
joejr@loganbus.com
Owner: Michael Tornabe

Lorissa

718-276-7100
joejr@loganbus.com
Owner: Michael Tornabe

Customer service:

Phone: 718-738-7373

[ The names of all companies where the workers are in this union — and therefore subject to a work stoppage if a strike is provoked — follow]:

All American

Bobby’s

Boro Transportation (Consolidated)

ANJ (Consolidated)

SNT (Consolidated)

GVC Limited (School Age & Pre-K)

Grandpa’s

Hoyt Transportation

IC Bus

Leesel Transportation

Lorissa

Mar-Can (Attendants only)

NYC School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSB)

Phillip Bus Corp (School Age & Pre-K)

Pioneer Transportation

Media coverage that includes the voices of school bus riders’ parents as of 08/21/23

AM NY free newspaper

https://www.amny.com/news/potential-school-bus-strike-could-impact-up-to-150000-public-school-students

ATU 1181-1061 President Tomas Fret said. “Right now, my message to the parents is: We’re hoping we can reach an agreement before the first day of school.”

[NOTE: Mr. Fret was misquoted in that there are not daily negotiations at this time]

…………..

NY 1 TV and internet

https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2023/08/14/school-bus-strike-possible-in-september--chancellor-warns

Some parents say a fair contract will also improve conditions their children face on the bus, alleviating driver shortages that cause buses to be late or not show up at all

…………..

Chalkbeat online education news

https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2023/8/11/23828636/nyc-school-bus-strike-david-banks-drivers-union

…………..

CBS TV

https://youtu.be/04MiFEb3CI0

The reporter misstates a few things. But the parents are on point!!

Parents were on the radio!
Visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-out-of-school/id1490313171
Find **August 27, 2023** and Click the Play button

Statement from ATU President Tomas Fret on August 18, 2023
[Spanish and alternative text pending]

In case of a school bus strike in Fall 2023 we will be adding more information, so save this page. Contact pistnyc@gmail.com if you notice any errors or omissions.

PIST Update 8/21/23:

In response to criticism from parents and students, the NYC Public Schools FACE office has arranged for two virtual meetings with the Division of Operations this week.

Weds Aug 23 from 6-7 pm for busing advocates

Thurs Aug 24 from 6-7 pm for members of a Citywide or Community Education Council or District Parent Advisory Committee.

The contacts given are:

1) Andrew McClintock, Division of Operations, at AMcclintock@schools.nyc.gov.

2) Office of Family and Community Empowerment NYCPS

FAX :212 374-0733 Office: 212-374-4118

Email:Face@schools.nyc.gov nycpublicschools.nyc.gov