Hundreds of Local Bus Drivers Rally for Better Wages

being a bread driver,beer driver and water driver are all physically demanding jobs, each deserve the respect and compensation that they deserve as they sacrifice their life span doing hard physical work. it take its toll, and their skills as drivers are every bit as critical to the safety of the public as anyone on the road.

Just think of the new patients you'll have when they have health insurance if you are a real doctor who was educated on government grants or one who doesnt accept insurance and bankrupts the needed with bills like 20k for an hours worth of surgery.

Union Review Supporter wrote:

<quoted text> I've been on both sides of that fence! For all of the 1.5 million reasons that you can find against a union, there are 1.5 million individuals out there who can tell you why they belong. You're suggesting that because you belong to a labor union that you don't work hard? Tell that to the waste haulers or those that work in rubber/steel plants. Any number of blue collar jobs! Actually, my bus was 110 degree's inside last year and I had children throwing up because of it! No, not easy!

I never suggested union workers are lazy. I clearly stated union workers are unmotivated. They don't have to be. Excelling above the norm is frowned upon by the union and rewarding said excellence is forbidden by the union. Sounds like a ceiling to me?

I'm sorry to have to be so blunt but a 110 degree bus does not make driving buses a hard job warranting higher pay and benefits. Its just not a difficult job. I'm sorry but it isn't.

NJ TEAMSTER wrote:

If the employer doesn't pay decent wages and refers to MEDICAID AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS A BENEFIT PACKAGE THEN WHO IS PAYING FOR THESE BENE'S, THE TAXPAYER.
THIS EMPLOYER LIKE WAL MART WILL UNDERSELL A PRODUCT JUST TO RUN THE COMPETITION OUT OF BUSINESS.
THEN WHEN THEY ARE THE ONLY BUSINESS IN TOWN , THE TAXPAYERS GET A REAL INCREASE. WE HAVE A CONSENT DEGREE MANDATING THAT FIRST STUDENT MUST SUPPLY TERMINAL SPACE TO COMPETITORS WHO WANT TO ENTER THE BUSINESS AND CANT AFFORD SPACE. MUCH LIKE THE BREAK UP OF MA BELL.
IN OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM WHERE THE HEALTH CARE IS EITHER EMPLOYER BASED OR COMMUNITY BASED . WHICH CHOICE DO YOU SUPPORT.

If an employee is satisfied with a job that forces them to use Medicaid and unemployment then he/she will never succeed in the world of personal responsibility anyway.

NJ TEAMSTER wrote:

being a bread driver,beer driver and water driver are all physically demanding jobs, each deserve the respect and compensation that they deserve as they sacrifice their life span doing hard physical work. it take its toll, and their skills as drivers are every bit as critical to the safety of the public as anyone on the road.

Sorry was not making light of bread, beer and water drivers job not being demanding. Just trying to prove that carrying children is not an easy job either.

NJ TEAMSTER wrote:

ARE YOU A UNION MEMBER?
ARE YOUR A AAA MEMBER,
lobbies for auto and driver interest.
ARE YOU A AMERICAN LEGION MEMBER,
lobbies for Veterans benefits.
Are you a AARP MEMBER
Lobbies for seniors.
P.B.A, LOBBIES, UNION FOR POLICE.
I'm sure you catch my drift, Unions are all around, its about people joining together to voice their concerns and press their interest. Why should workers be denied these privileges.

The factions you list are special interest groups. None of which maintain contracts with their members employers. Additionally, none of those groups force membership upon anyone. Your lackluster comparison of apples and oranges is very weak. I'm sure you catch my drift.

NJ TEAMSTER wrote:

It was the IBEW that brought/broke the Iron curtain and disbanded the USSR , its about freedom.

Silly me. I thought Ronald Reagan fascillitated bringing down communist USSR. And all along it was some electricians. Guess you learn something new everyday.
Now what else did Ronald Reagan bring down? Oh that's right he brought down the Air Traffic Controllers Union after they went on strike thereby jeopardizing millions of passengers. They went on strike trying to force the government into raising their pay while at the same time reducing their work week to 32 hours!!! I wonder what happened to the 15,000 unmotivated slackers who wanted to work 32 hours per week after Ronnie fired them and banned them from federal service? Hopefully they moved to France where a 32 hour work week is the norm.

Hey I wonder what the third graders in Georgia had in store for their bus driver. Maybe their bus driver was afraid to discipline them though and let them run amuck all over the bus. There's an accident waiting to happen.

for union wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe the public needs to be informed better of what is expected of a Bus Driver. People should see what we see in the overhead mirror, 50 to 80 kids sitting behind us while we drive a 36,000 lb bus. Not to mention driving in traffic where most people hit the gas and cut us off because they don't want to be stuck behind a school bus.

Sounds like the same thing every Mom in America deals with for free.

for union wrote:

<quoted text>
If the public wants us to take care of their children to the best of our ability then First Student should give their customers what they want. They should pay drivers a fair and decent wage and benefits.

So you don't do your job the best of your ability already? And you wonder why you make the wages you do. Unbelievable.

for union wrote:

<quoted text>I have spoke to drivers that drive faster so that they can complete their runs within the time the company gives them. I tell them that they are crazy, it is their license that will be gone if something happens. Some are covering double routes because there is not enough drivers, so they drive faster so they can get to their next destination on time. They have to keep the superintendants of schools, that they work for happy or there is no job. They do whatever the company says so they can keep their jobs. If there were no drivers there would be no company.

So if you get more money you'll be able to do more work? You already stated you don't do your job to the best of your ability.

for union wrote:

<quoted text>Mom and pop bus yards are a thing of the past. First Student, Durham Bus and STA are scooping up what is left. This is a big profitable business. We carry precious cargo. Not bread, beer or water. We should have the respect of the parents, schools, and the public for the job that we do each day. We should also be respected by the company that we keep in business.

No one said you don't have respect but respect doesn't dictate higher wages. Education and the ability to do a job that few people can do will get you higher wages.

By the way, the profitability of your company has nothing to do with whether or not you should get a raise.

IF you toiled and troubled to get in your own business (guessing not, maybe family owned), then I bet you had days that were a bit unmotivated. That's work and life. When you sit in the driver's seat with 78 kids behind you, maniacs on the road and 110 heat with puke running down the aisle, well, yes it is hard not to be motivated to QUIT because the only one that appreciates that days work is the kid that's puking!

Islander native wrote:

<quoted text>
I never suggested union workers are lazy. I clearly stated union workers are unmotivated. They don't have to be. Excelling above the norm is frowned upon by the union and rewarding said excellence is forbidden by the union. Sounds like a ceiling to me?
I'm sorry to have to be so blunt but a 110 degree bus does not make driving buses a hard job warranting higher pay and benefits. Its just not a difficult job. I'm sorry but it isn't.

Supporter Just clarifying a glitch!

Islander native wrote:

Sorry pal, I'm semi-retired from a business I built with my own hands - I have no intention of driving a bus. I went to school so that I could obtain employment that demanded a good salary and benefits without the use of an organization that puts a ceiling on my earnings.

Supporter wrote: "Thank You" for telling the truth here! You said it. You had your own business. Not everyone can do that in this world. I'm college educated too. I chose to drive a bus so that my spouse & I will have similar time off during the year. Unions don't put a ceiling on wages. Corporations haggle to the bitter end to keep from giving anything at the bargaining table. Profits, Greed, Indifference!

Islander native wrote: Interesting that you call me a redneck. How did you make that determination? Is it because I'm from the South? If so, do you really want a bunch of rednecks in your highly intelligent union?

Supporter wrote: I'm from the south, and yes, you are a redneck and yes, we want to represent all school bus workers because they aren't getting a fair shake.

Islander native wrote: 155 million employed individuals in the United States and you say 1.5 million Teamsters "can't be wrong"? Are you implying the other 153.5 million hard working individuals are wrong?

Supporter wrote: I've been on both sides of that fence! For all of the 1.5 million reasons that you can find against a union, there are 1.5 million individuals out there who can tell you why they belong. You're suggesting that because you belong to a labor union that you don't work hard? Tell that to the waste haulers or those that work in rubber/steel plants. Any number of blue collar jobs! Actually, my bus was 110 degree's inside last year and I had children throwing up because of it! No, not easy!

face it, creating a traffic jam wastes gas and does nothing to assist you freaks. get a solution from someone who is educated. your approach is juvenile and lame

there is something you keep forgetting driving a SCHOOL bus might not be physical but it is MENTAL and ask any dr, that is worse on you than any physical job you could ever have.....

Islander native wrote:

<quoted text>
Sounds like the same thing every Mom in America deals with for free.

Then maybe you can get mother's everywhere to drive their own children to school.
<quoted text>
So you don't do your job the best of your ability already? And you wonder why you make the wages you do. Unbelievable.

I don't wonder why I make the wages I do. I've been teamsters for 10 yrs. I get respected by my managers, school dist, and parents. I am referring to drivers that try to get help from the company and school districts and get nothing. They are told to drive buses that are not fit to be driven because they are afraid to loose their job they do it. After awhile of complaining and getting no respect they figure why should I care. Good drivers leave because no matter how excellent a job they do they get nothing. They get crap for wages.
<quoted text>
So if you get more money you'll be able to do more work? You already stated you don't do your job to the best of your ability.
<quoted text> I work for my pay.
No one said you don't have respect but respect doesn't dictate higher wages. Education and the ability to do a job that few people can do will get you higher wages.
By the way, the profitability of your company has nothing to do with whether or not you should get a raise.

I am educated. I can drive a school bus that can carry up to 84 children. I work by the federal guidelines for a CDL license. I get background checked. Are you saying that I drive a bus so I must be an idiot? If this is so you have no idea what my job is. Maybe you should come with me some day especially when there is a snow storm, full moon, and the kids have had indoor recess with a bake sale in school. Maybe you can give me some input as to what I should do when there is no one home to receive their children. Oh no never mind I can handle it myself. I assume you have no children. You must work for Bergman.

GO SCHOOL BUS WORKER'S JACKSONVILLE! You have the democratic right to form your union. You have the democratic right to stand up for yourself and your family. You have the democratic right to stand up for your working conditions and your future! We are Teamsters and that's exactly what WE stand for! You have our global support on your campaign and we welcome you with open arms!

Bubba Roid wrote:

<quoted text>
Islander you are right. These Yankees are strange. One reason why so many Yankees move down here to Florida where I was born and raised is because of the extreme high local taxes up there. Now they want to bring that to us living here so we can support some nit wit school bus driver.
Anyone including school bus drivers that want to make more money and have better benefits should go get an education and become a doctor or dentist or a CEO of a corporation.

You say "yankees" are strange. I object. I don't want to move down to your state. I am happy where I am. I also don't smoke anything, I get regular drug testing.

People treat Bus Drivers like idiots. Is that who you want to drive your children to school? Maybe if there wasn't such a great profit in the school bus industry, then mom and pop businesses would still own them and not corporate america.

Speaking of nit-wits. Just remember when you go to WalMart to purchase items that are made overseas by cheap labor and lack of regulations, you get what you pay for. Like toys with lead in them. I guess we'll all pay in the end for medical for our children etc. So much for education.

Unions are the "DEMAND" part of "SUPPLY AND DEMAND"
in CAPITALISTIC ECONOMIES, Employees supply labor and employers resell that labor for a profit. By unionizing We are seeking to set fair wages for our labor,our commodity.

610 YES for TEAMSTERS 54 to be status quo
WORKERS WILL BE RESPECTED NOW.

NJ TEAMSTER wrote:

Unions are the "DEMAND" part of "SUPPLY AND DEMAND"
in CAPITALISTIC ECONOMIES, Employees supply labor and employers resell that labor for a profit. By unionizing We are seeking to set fair wages for our labor,our commodity.

Question, why is union membership on the decline while the size of work force is on the increase?
I’m sorry , there is one exception to that, the government unions are growing at the fastest rate ever as the size of government grows ever so fat.