Keep Safe Quality Student Transportation! Keep good union jobs in Holyoke!
To Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Holyoke School Committee members, Holyoke Receiver Dr. Steven Zrike, and Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Wulson,
The Receiver of Holyoke Public Schools wants to eliminate mini buses, wheelchair buses and monitors for school transportation. Students will have to ride federally unregulated used vans, and without a trusted monitor. This means that the Puerto Rican and greater Holyoke community could lose more than 100 good Union jobs, the UFCW will lose 100 members, and our parents, families, and students could lose drivers and monitors that they have counted on for years, that understand their specific needs and have built relationships and trust with them.
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To:
To Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Holyoke School Committee members, Holyoke Receiver Dr. Steven Zrike, and Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Wulson,
From:
[Your Name]
We are members of the Holyoke community, and we are calling on you to keep good union jobs in our community.
We are concerned that our Puerto Rican and greater Holyoke community will lose more than 100 good Union jobs, and our parents, families, and students will lose drivers and monitors that they have counted on for years, that understand their specific needs and have built relationships and trust with them.
The 150 dedicated drivers, monitors, and mechanics are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459, and together they have made sure Holyoke Public School students can get to school and back home safely for over 30 years. Many of the members are Puerto Rican, and their children and family attend the Holyoke Public Schools. These workers have been in this career for about 10 years on average and the longest member has worked in this position for 32 years. With good pay, benefits, and a voice at work, these drivers and monitors are able to take care of their families and communities.
On March 1, 2018, the state appointed receiver of the Holyoke Public Schools made clear that they plan to eliminate use of mini buses, wheelchair buses, and monitors for school transportation next year and replace them with federally unregulated used vans, without any input from parents, students, community members or the affected staff. They want to only use used vans, pay very low wages, and have bad, non-Union jobs.
This attack is anti-worker, anti-democratic, anti-student, and discriminatory against students with special needs and must be stopped. End the outsourcing and give the workers and community a say in ensuring student safety and good union jobs!
Querido Alcade de Holyoke Alex Morse, los miembros de comité escolar de Holyoke, el Receiver de las escuelas de Holyoke Dr. Steven Zrike, y el Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Wulson,
Somos miembros de la comunidad de Holyoke y les estamos llamando a proteger trabajos buenos y sindicalizados en nuestra comunidad.
Estamos muy preocupados que nuestra comunidad puertorriqueña y la comunidad de Holyoke van a perder más que 100 trabajos buenos y sindicalizados y nuestros padres, familias, y estudiantes van a perder conductores y monitores de autobús con los que han contado durante muchos años, que entienden sus necesidades y que tienen historia y confianza con ellos.
Los 150 dedicados conductores, monitores y mecánicos son miembros de UFCW Local 1459 y juntos se han asegurado de que los estudiantes de las escuelas públicas de Holyoke puedan llegar a la escuela y regresar a sus hogares de forma segura durante casi 30 años. Muchos de los miembros son puertorriqueños y sus niños y familias asisten las escuelas públicas de Holyoke. Los trabajadores han trabajado en esta carrera por más o menos 10 años y el trabajado con la mas experiencia ha trabajado en su posición por 32 años. Con buen pago, beneficios y la voz en el trabajo, los conductores y monitores de autobús pueden cuidar sus familias y comunidades.
Sin embargo, a partir del 1 de marzo del 2018, el administrador jurídico designado por el estado para las escuelas públicas de Holyoke, dejó en claro que planea eliminar el uso de minibuses, autobuses de sillas de ruedas y monitores para el transporte escolar el próximo año; y reemplazarlos con camionetas usadas no reguladas federalmente, sin ningún tipo de consulta a los padres, estudiantes, miembros de la comunidad o el personal afectado. Ellos quieren solo utilizan las camionetas, pagan lo mínimo posible y tienen trabajos malos, no sindicalizados, y temporáneos.
Tenemos que enviar un mensaje claro al administrador jurídico para las escuelas públicas de Holyoke, Steven Zrike, y al comisionado interino de Educación Primaria y Secundaria, Jeff Wulfson, que este ataque anti-obrero, anti-democrático, anti-estudiantil y discriminatorio contra los estudiantes con necesidades especiales debe revertirse. ¡Demandamos un alto a la subcontratación y que se les otorgue a los trabajadores y a la comunidad voz y voto para garantizar la seguridad de los estudiantes y empleos profesionales bien remunerados!