Mayor: School Bus Strike Would Be "Misguided"

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Students who ride yellow school buses in the five boroughs will have to find another way into school starting Wednesday as the union representing drivers and matrons have authorized a strike which they say could be resolved with the help of Mayor Bloomberg who, earlier in the day, called the action "misguided" and reiterated the union's job protection demands cannot be legally met by the city.

The strike would affect more than 150,000 students.

It comes as bus companies are responding to the strike threat by threatening legal action.

The bus companies have joined forces as the New York City School Bus Coalition. They say they will seek an injunction from the National Labor Relations Board and civil damages if the drivers walk off the job.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall this afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg said the demands being made by the union are "not about safety but about job protections the city cannot legally offer."

The strike talk began after the city put bus contracts out to bid and the Amalgamated Transit Union demanded job protections for some workers.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says the state's highest court ruled the city cannot give those protections.

The AFL-CIO and the New York City Central Labor Council are trying to poke some holes in the Department of Education's claims.

They say in the past the city defended the cost and the legality of including the Employee Protection Provision in contracts in Court.

They also say the court decision the city is citing does not apply to this situation.

Meantime, the city has a contingency plan if the strike happens.

Students who ride buses and parents of younger students will be able to receive MetroCards at their respective schools.

Parents who live too far from public transportation would be reimbursed 55 cents per mile if they drive their kids.

If they use a taxi or car service they will be reimbursed after filling out a form available at their child's school.

Mayor Bloomberg says students who arrive at school late will be allowed a two-hour grace period.

Students unable to attend school because of yellow bus disruptions will be marked absent with an explanation code to ensure their attendance record is not affected.

After-school programs would continue, but field trips would be canceled.

Source: http://bronx.ny1.com/content/top_stories/175398/mayor--school-bus-strike-would-be--misguided-

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