School bus drivers go back to school; some are reportedly laid off

School bus wheels were rolling for the first time in five weeks on the morning of February 20 as the strike of drivers and matrons finally came to an end.

Workers from Amalgamated Transit 1181 began the strike on January 16 because the union and the mayor could not come to an agreement regarding Employee Protection Provisions.

The union announced the strike would be suspended on Friday, February 15, after five Democratic candidates for mayor sent a letter to ATU International President Larry Henley requesting an end to the strike and promising to revisit the matter should they be elected.

“Though our strike has been suspended, the principles that we fight for remain pressing issues that the city will have to address. The fact is, a safe workforce is an experienced workforce and the Employee Protection Provisions currently included in the city’s busing contracts protect our most experienced drivers, matrons and mechanics – and have created one of the safest workforces in the entire country,” said Michael Cordiello, president of ATU 1181.

“Parents should be outraged at the irresponsibility of not allowing Local 1181 members – who provide their children with safe, experienced transportation on wages that are barely above the poverty level – to return to their jobs, and the families they know and care about,” he added. “The union will take all appropriate actions to defend our members.”

However, some union members are no longer in a position to be defended by Local 1181, as more than 100 bus matrons were locked out of their bus depot in Red Hook and told they were being laid off permanently, reportedly due to the shuttering of their bus company, Canal Escorts, as a result of the strike.

According to The New York Post, the women were told by company president, Joseph Fazzia, that the “layoffs are permanent” and that the women could apply for positions with other bus companies affiliated with Canal, but that are organized under Teamsters Local 854.

Fazzia reportedly claimed that the loss of money from the strike forced him to fold the company.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the strike was “unnecessary,” but is looking forward to finalizing bus contracts.

“Earlier this week, the city accepted the first bids on school bus contracts in more than 30 years, with the potential to cut costs, transfer the savings to classrooms and secure quality service from certified drivers and matrons for our students,” he said. “This open, fair and competitive process is what our school system and city deserve, and sets an important standard that we will continue to uphold.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he was also looking forward to settling the issue.

“We appreciate the hard work our bus drivers and matrons do and we welcome them back to the job,” he said.  “In the city’s entire history, the special interests have never had less power than they do today, and the end of this strike reflects the fact that when we say we put children first, we mean it.”