All 52 companies that run New York City’s yellow school buses signed an emergency 30-day contract with the city Thursday, a spokesperson for the companies told Chalkbeat New York.
The last-minute agreement averts a possible work stoppage on Monday, meaning that 150,000 students who rely on school buses are no longer in limbo, the news site said.
“In the end, this is about the children and our employees, period,” said bus companies’ spokesperson Richard Bamberger. “This emergency extension will allow us to bring all parties to the table to work everything out, while, at the same time it will allow parents, students, drivers and aides to know that buses will be running on a normal schedule."
The five-year contract between the bus companies, the city, and the Department of Education expired in June. Since then, the bus companies have been operating on emergency contracts extended on a monthly basis.
Last week the companies were preparing to halt operations and lay off employees on Nov. 1 if they didn’t receive a five-year contract extension. The city had issued a guidance about the possible service interruptions on Monday, noting how families would get OMNY cards so students can get to school.
The Panel for Education Policy, which reviews the Education Department's large contracts, unanimously opposed the contract extension at its meeting Wednesday night, saying it lacks adequate employee protections and service improvements, according to ABC 7 News.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is also against signing a new five-year extension, noting his desire for a comprehensive reform on the overall bus service system. He urged the state legislature and governor to pass a bill that protects school bus workers’ wages and benefits. In addition, the city should launch a competitive RFP for our bus contracts that prioritizes transparency, accountability, innovation, and a standard of service that is safe, reliable, and attentive to the needs of our youngest and most vulnerable New Yorkers, he said.
"Enough is enough. We are now living the worst-case scenario – where the best option is one more year of poor, undignified bus service for our kids so that the State can finally do the work they’ve spent decades delaying," Reynoso said in a statement. "None of us should be able to stomach this broken system any longer. For the safety of our students and the benefit of our bus drivers, it’s time for our school bus system to leave the past behind.”
