School bus drivers' union warns of possible strike

School bus employees have voted to authorize a strike, which could potentially cause massive disruptions for tens of thousands of New York City public school students and their families at the start of the school year.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 is negotiating contracts with several private companies contracted with the city public school system to provide school bus service. In June, members overwhelmingly voted to approve a strike against some of the companies, according to a newsletter from the union.

There were 872 members who voted in favor of striking against Pioneer Transportation, with just 64 no votes cast, while 576 members voted to approve a strike against Consolidated Bus Transportation, Inc. Members also authorized strikes against Logan Bus Company and NYC School Bus Umbrella Services, the newsletter indicated.

During a meeting held last week with the schools chancellor’s parent advisory council, Schools Chancellor David Banks informed parents about the possible labor action.

“We do have some immediate concerns, we’re currently negotiating with the ATU around buses, and there’s some real concerns around a potential bus strike which might affect thousands of kids,” Banks said. “[We’re] certainly hopeful that we can avoid it, but just wanted to start to plant a seed to let people know about the possibility.”

The first day of school for city public school students is Sept. 7. Banks estimated that the strike could affect anywhere from 85,000 students to as many as 150,000, with students with disabilities likely to be most impacted. It is unclear how many of the 9,000 school bus routes would be impacted, or how many school bus employees would be affected.

Local 1181, which is the largest local in the ATU, has about 13,000 members, including school bus drivers and attendants.

A spokesperson for ATU Local 1181 declined to comment on the matter. “Although we took strike authorization votes in NYC for some of the NYC school bus companies, negotiations continue,” the union wrote in the newsletter published on the local’s website. “The Union is fighting to get back what members previously had and everything they lost. A fair contract for all senior and new members is the answer to making school bus a career again.”

Nearly 9,000 school bus drivers went on strike in January 2013, following then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to eliminate the Employee Protection Provision, which had guaranteed school bus workers’ seniority rights and compensation levels when a route was taken over by a new company.

Nathaniel Styer, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, declined to detail the issues at the heart of negotiations but noted the talks’ singular nature. 

“As with all labor negotiations, we cannot comment on ongoing discussions. These negotiations are unlike most involving the city because they are between bus companies, who contract with the DOE, and their employees, who are not city employees,” Styer said. 

“As negotiations continue, we are developing several contingency plans, as a precaution, to ensure students can get to school in the event of a strike — including, but not limited to, providing students with emergency MetroCards, reimbursement for use of alternative transportation, and, in some cases, free rideshare. The city encourages the parties to remain at the bargaining table until they reach a voluntary agreement,” he continued.

clewis@thechiefleader.com