NYC School Bus Workers Facing Major Pay Cut

New York City school bus workers are expected to have their pay slashed and benefits cut, starting April 15. Both Michael Cordiello, president of the union local representing some of the drivers and aides, and Jeffrey Pollack, a lawyer representing the school bus operators, confirmed the wage cuts. They also said contract talks were suspended.

This follows a tumultuous winter for the school bus industry, which included a month-long strike starting on Jan. 16. Some 8,000 bus drivers and aides walked off the job over the loss of job protections, known as EPPs. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said a court ruling prohibited the city from including the protections in future contracts. And it was followed by an ignominious suspension of the strike when Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union realized it could not convince the Bloomberg administration to step in.

The school bus strike was the first in the city since 1979. About 5,000 of the city’s 7,700 routes were affected. Cordiello said the latest failed round of negotiations with the bus companies were an extension of the strike.

“Companies, seeking to make more profit, and based on fears from the EPPs being removed, they’re using that as leverage and as a green light for them to go forward to decimate the work force even further,” he said, adding that he expects bus drivers and matrons to face a 7.5 percent reduction in wages. They will also lose pay over the Easter holiday and face higher health insurance costs. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.schoolbook.org/2013/03/21/school-bus-workers-facing-major-pay-cut/