Community Corner
As Yellow Bus Strike Ends, City Gained More Than it Lost
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott announced that the city spent more than $20 million and saved $80 million
As New York City’s Yellow School Bus Strike ends today and about 200 private schools resume classes from the winter break, the price tag of the strike emerges, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Amalgamated Transit Union 1181 agreed on Friday to end their strike, without a real compromise from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who managed to budge not an inch.
Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bus drivers wanted renegotiate contracts that would included stronger provisions around job security, but the mayor contented such provisions were illegal.
Additionally, Walcott says, although the city spent more than $20 million reimbursing parents for travel, it saved $80 million by not paying the bus companies during the strike.
Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Walcott said, however, he expected the price tag to rise as he urged parents to continue to file for reimbursement within the next month.
Most drivers will return to work on Wednesday as public schools resume after a winter recess, but the strike's fallout will continue to be felt as companies, the city and union sort through legal issues.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
