School Districts In Nassau County Warn Of Possible School Bus Strike
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Thousands of students on Long Island may need to find alternate transportation if workers from their school bus company go on strike.
Four Nassau County school districts -- Freeport, Baldwin, Hicksville and Rockville Centre -- warned students and parents of the possible school bus strike on Monday afternoon.
The Ronkonkoma-based Baumann Bus Company is in negotiations with driver's union, TWU Local 252, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
Union President Debra Hagan said the big issue is consistent work hours.
"These drivers are on the low end of the pay scale on the island and guaranteed weeks are a must. They need to have consistent pay checks," Hagan told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "From week to week, they need to know that they get the same amount of money every week."
While each school district sent notices out to parents about the possibility of a strike, the Hicksville school district said in a statement that buses will likely run as scheduled.
In the event of a strike, Hicksville is offering extended hours. Students who normally take bus transportation may be dropped off as early as 6:30 a.m. and will also have supervised care until 6:30 p.m.
Other districts are asking parents to make arrangements for transportation both to and from school.
Representatives of Baumann had no immediate comment, 1010 WINS reported.
The union issued a statement which said, in part, that it will "continue to negotiate in good faith but will no longer allow Baumann Bus Company to take advantage of the disadvantaged."
"Their repeated threats to the membership of potential loss of jobs and continuously distributing flyers informing union members to cross the picket line to work and step by step instructions on how to resign from the union will not be tolerated," the statement said.
The two sides will be at the bargaining table again on Wednesday.