Long Island School Bus Company Employees Vote To Authorize Strike

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Employees of a Long Island school bus company voted Saturday to authorize a strike, according to the union representing the staffers.

Employees at Baumann & Sons Buses and Acme Buses voted by secret ballot to authorize the strike, rejecting the companies' "last, best and final offer," according to a news release from Teamsters Local 1205 of Farmingdale.

The union negotiating committee will have an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss logistics and strike activities, the release said.

A Newsday report said the union had been demanding more pay, greater company contributions to health care, and improved working conditions.

Union leaders instructed workers for Baumann and its affiliate acme buses to work on Monday, but to be prepared in the event a union representative is ready to lead them to the picket line, WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported.

Baumann & Sons is one of the largest school bus operators on Long Island, transporting some 15,000 students a day.