School-Bus Drivers Walk Off Job in Boston

Interesting that it's not over money, but about their health care plan and a "tracking app".

 

As usual, you're cherry-picking.

Sounds like it's a lot more than they're concerned about being tracked. Sounds more like management is trying to make things a lot harder on them for very little reason.

 

So requiring your employees to show up on time is bad.

And keeping track of the kids they're responsible for is bad too.

Yeah, that makes fucking sense.

 

Baron, their own union isn't even with them on this one.

 

Shame on those drivers, for wanting to actually be paid:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/10/08/boston-school-bus-drivers-stage-wildcat-strike-disrupting-service-students/ii8xpqePpieMYFyVvXZi3N/story.html

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/10/national_union_orders_boston_bus_drivers_back_to_work

 

Yet their union isn't supporting this. Odd that.

 

I'm guessing it's because they were supposed to give some kind of notice of a strike, so kids wouldn't be left waiting, and didn't.

And that they are legal procedures they must go through. But if they're not getting paid, it's pretty hard to convince someone not to do something drastic.

 

The union isn't supporting the strike because it has a contract with a grievance procedure that MUST be followed to address workplace issues.

 

I don't get the objection to the tracking app.

Municipal bus and train systems have been adding these functions for years. Delivery companies, and service companies use this kind of technology to track where their employees are.

Chicago required GPS systems be installed on food trucks.

Parents want to know where there kid is, and when he'll be home. Why would a driver be uncomfortable with them having this information? It's not like they're stopping off for a beer anyway. What's the big deal?

 

It's still a workplace change that should be subject to negotiation. Unilateral actions rightly piss off unions.

 

And in fact the very lucrative contract the membership has voted on and approved expressly forbids strikes.

 

The GPS thing was in the contract too.

http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/news/tentative-agreement-reached-boston-public-schools-bus-drivers