New York City School Bus Drivers To Strike; 152,000 Students Affected
Source: MSN
The New York City school bus drivers union will go on strike beginning Wednesday morning, union president Michael Cordiello announced Monday evening.
Cordiello, who heads Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said the union is still negotiating with city officials and is "optimistic" for an agreement but until there is a resolution, drivers will strike Wednesday. More than 8,000 drivers and matrons will be taking part.
"With its regrettable decision to strike, the union is abandoning 152,000 students and their families who rely on school bus service each day," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "As Chancellor (Dennis) Walcott and I have said, the City will take all steps available to ensure that those who are impacted have the support they need, and we are now activating the protocols we put in place in the event of a strike."
Cordiello said, "Safely transporting our children back and forth [to] school ... has, and always will be, the top priority of every man and woman who make up ATU Local 1181."
Read more: http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/new-york-city-school-bus-drivers-to-strike-152000-students-affected
