NYC school bus drivers go on strike, stranding 152,000 students

School bus drops off students in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 / AP

NEW YORK More than 8,000 New York City school bus drivers and matrons have gone on strike over job protection. Some 152,000 students, many disabled, have to find other ways to get to school.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says the strike started at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

It is, reports CBS New York station WCBS-TV, the first school bus strike in the city in 33 years.

Most of the city's roughly 1.1 million public school students take public transportation or walk to school.

Those who rely on the buses include 54,000 special education students and others who live far from schools or transportation.

Parents have made plans to use subways, carpools and other alternatives.

The city has put its contracts with private bus companies up for bid, aiming to cut costs. The union says drivers could suddenly lose their jobs when contracts expire in June.

[EthylRadykle]

I say clean slate, as some have stated , there are plenty of folks who need a job who would be more than happy to step in. You really trust those who would be quick to leave special needs students stranded? I will pay $50 a day for my son to get to school. allegedly they will be refunding us any money we use to get our kids to school...but it's the city..thats a whole story within itself.

[YardstickLearning]

http://www.yardsticklearning.com/single.html

[five_david]

There are 152,000 student uses buses and it cost the city $1.1 billion. This means that it cost the city $40.20 per student per day to get them to and from school! It's cheaper to take a taxi or a train.
Bus drivers only works 180 days/yr making $35,000/year. They are making $194 dollar a day!
There are 8,000 drivers and they make about $35,000/year and that is total $280,000,000.00 pay roll.
How is the rest of the money ($820,000,000.00) spend?

[wnjantzen]

Shameful. If you work for a private company how could you possibly as the city for job security. This is exactly why unions need to be scrapped. Let's face it there are plenty of unemployed New Yorkers looking for work. I am disabled and struggled to get my son to school today, however I think the union is out of it's mind to ask for job security under a private contract.

[five_david]

WMDMIA, Isn't the the current Bus company a private contractor?

[liriano24]

PARENTS STEP UP TELL BLOOMBERG TO STOP HIS BUSINESS WITH THE KIDS. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT? ITS SEEING THAT HE ONLY CARE MORE FOR SAVING THE MONEY THEN THE CHILDREN. CAME ON STOP THE BUSINESS.THEY ARE THE FUTURE NOT A COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISE.

[five_david]

Parents should tell the bus company stop charging so much for their services. NYC is paying $40.20 per pay per student. Its is cheaper to take a taxi.

[jgg000010]

Fire them. Don't think twice about it. "Thanks for your loyal service,
we hope you're happy in your new jobs".

[BigMykul]

If it isn't the teachers going on strike, it's the bus drivers. Just goes to prove that liberals don't care about the children, other than to help get votes or legislation passed.

[ahamon1969]

Children can be used to pass gun control laws, force vaccintions, etc, but you are right, we now see a system failing the kids when they are not the best bargaining chip.

[Ihateswineflu]

If you walk off your job, you should just keep walking. I promise there's someone who will gladly take your job and actually do it. Striking when people are depending on you is despicable.

[85fr15]

Maybe the union could play better with it's employers....the taxpayers. Sounds like the city is just looking to be fiscally responsible to those that they work for.