Bloomberg Warns Parents of Looming Bus Strike

There could be a lot more students walking and taking the subway to school in 2013.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned city parents that the city school bus driver's union was threatening to strike after this year's holiday break Friday morning.

"There is a strong possibility the union representing many school bus drivers and other bus workers will call a strike or a job action that would disrupt yellow bus service for more than 152,000 schoolchildren, beginning right after the holiday break," Bloomberg said, flanked by Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.

Bloomberg said striking drivers were upset about the city's decision to send out a request for bids on more than 1,000 bus routes serving students with special needs. The current operating contract ends at the conclusion of the current school year in 2013.

"As these contracts expire, DOE is bidding them out now and offering them to the lowest responsible bidder," Bloomberg said. "We just cannot afford what this has cost us so far, and we think that by putting it up for competitive bid we will be able to do better."

Bloomberg urged parents with questions about possible replacement transportation to go to nyc.gov or call 311.

Should the strike occur, Bloomberg said, parents could be reimbursed for transportation costs associated with getting their kids to school, such as driving or taking public transportation. 

Who will be impacted by the potential strike:

• Children at New York City public schools.
• Children who take yellow school buses to private and parochial schools.
• Children who attend after-school programs.

New York City Public School students will be sent home with a letter explaining the situation to parents. The text of the letter is available here.