Union: Ronkonkoma company laying off 900 drivers, other employees
One of Long Island’s biggest school bus companies is laying off about 900 drivers and other employees Wednesday in the face of school closings because of the coronavirus, according to union representatives, who added that other transportation firms had “done the right thing” by keeping employees on the payroll.
Union officials said the bus company, Baumann & Sons, based in Ronkonkoma, informed workers by letter that their jobs were being terminated and company contributions to their medical insurance canceled. Affected bus drivers and bus monitors had worked in at least 10 districts … Read More
NYS Unemployment Insurance Hotline - 1-888-469-7365 (New York State is waiving the 7-day waiting period for unemploymetn insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus closures or quarantines)
There is a bill pending in Albany that is extremely important to all of our school bus drivers and driver assistants regarding disqualifications. This is Bill number S402. The purpose of this bill is to have school districts abide by your collective bargaining agreement with regard to disciplinary action. Right now, employees of the transportation contractor of the school district have contractual protections covering disciplinary actions, but the school district is not a party to that contract. Therefore, the school district is able to undertake disciplinary action against the employees of its contractor, without due process protections. This legislation does not prevent the district from undertaking a disciplinary action, it merely requires the district to abide by the terms in an existing contract between its transportation contractor and its employees.
I urge all members to contact their State Senators today and let them know we need this bill passed without delay. Follow the links to your representative and encourage them to pass bill number S402.
