Despite assurances that 'sharing the sacrifice' necessary as a result of the 2008 economic collapse is the patriotic duty of every American, the latest challenge to that burden-sharing philosophy are the school bus drivers, matrons and mechanics of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1181, the country's largest transit union with 8,800 members in New York City.
On strike since January 16, the walkout was provoked when Mayor Michael Bloomberg withheld a court-ordered Employee Protection Provision (EPP) from Department of Education bids for upcoming school bus contracts.
In place since 1979, the EPP guarantees each employee a job regardless of which company wins the bid by requiring the company to hire current workers based on seniority.
Without the EPP in force, the privately owned bus companies will be able to cut wages and benefits as they replace experienced, trained personnel with minimum wage workers who lack the necessary CPR training or other required certifications.
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