School Daze: A bus drivers’ strike could cut off transportation to thousands of students
Union Workers at Two Brooklyn-Based Bus Companies Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize a Nov. 1 Walkout
School bus drivers and attendants at two of the largest bus companies in the city voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to authorize a strike that could begin Tuesday, Nov. 1 and affect thousands of schoolchildren in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens.
The Teamsters Local 553 members at Jofaz Transportation and Y&M Transit who participated in the balloting voted 85 percent in favor of a walkout if a contract impasse over reduced holidays and increased health care costs is not resolved by Tuesday.
The Department of Education contracts with Jofaz and Y&M, both based in Red Hook, to run about 600 school bus routes, providing transportation for special education and general education students in the three boroughs. If a strike happens, about 900 workers would be involved.