City Rushes To Respond To Looming School Bus Driver Strike

By: Lindsey Christ

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City officials sent a letter to parents Friday warning them of a possible strike among school bus drivers that could affect more than 150,000 students, half of whom have special needs, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg called an emergency press conference to speak out on the issue. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

Every morning, 152,000 city students take a yellow bus to school, but now the drivers' union says a strike is "likely," and Mayor Michael Bloomberg called an emergency press conference Friday to say it's "imminent."

“This is a very difficult situation for all of us, and we understand that it may be very upsetting to our students and our families,” said Bloomberg.

Almost half of the students who would be impacted are in special education classes. Most of the others are in elementary school.

“This action will definitely be disruptive to their schooling,” said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.

One school on 20th Street and Second Avenue serves students with special needs from all five boroughs. As kids boarded buses on Friday afternoon to go home to Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx, it wasn't clear how long they'd be able to rely on that service.

The bus drivers union claims that although a strike is likely, there are no immediate plans. Indeed, drivers were just learning about the threat Friday afternoon. One driver heard about it on the radio and spread the news down the pick-up line.

The union is threatening a strike because the city put out a bid for a new contract to bus pre-kindergarten special needs students that does not include seniority protection for current drivers. It accused the mayor of being more concerned with cutting costs than protecting students' safety.

But the Bloomberg said his hands are tied, since the state's highest court ruled that the seniority protections could not be part of the contract.

“The courts were explicit and unambiguous,” said Bloomberg.

The city has also lobbied against legislation that would have allowed the seniority protections to be part of the contract, saying it would raise costs. City officials have gone to federal court to get an injunction against a strike.

Meanwhile, back-up plans are in the works, including giving MetroCards to students and reimbursing parents for gas. Bloomberg said if there is a strike, schools will remain open, but many students may not get there.