Officials of a school bus drivers' union have decided to end their monthlong strike in New York City. Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike over job protection issues.
"Though our strike has been suspended, the principles that we fight for remain pressing issues that the City will have to address," President Michael Cordiello said in a statement. "The fact is, a safe workforce is an experienced workforce and the Employee Protection Provisions currently included in the City's busing contracts protect our most experienced drivers, matrons, and mechanics - and have created one of the safest workforces in the entire country."
Some 8,000 bus drivers and aides walked off the job January 16, 2013. Drivers and matrons will report back to work Wednesday, February 20. (Schools are closed Monday and Tuesday.)
The strike affected tens of thousands of schoolchildren, including many disabled students.
Five Democratic mayoral candidates sent a letter to the union Thursday asking drivers to return to work. They say that, if elected, they will revisit the job security issue.
"In January when Mayor Bloomberg is gone, we are comfortable that his entire scheme will be rejected," Cordiello said. "We are grateful that so many elected leaders in this city are choosing the facts as a path to a conclusion, rather than a conclusion as a path to the facts."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that he thanked the families, teachers, schools and Department of Education staff for getting through the challenges of the strike. He also thanked those bus employees who came to work despite the strike.
"For decades, the monopolistic bus contract process benefited the bus companies and unions at the expense of the City's taxpayers and students - but no longer," Bloomberg said. "We appreciate the hard work our bus drivers and matrons do and we welcome them back to the job. In the city's entire history, the special interests have never had less power than they do today, and the end of this strike reflects the fact that when we say we put children first, we mean it."
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:05 PM EDT2013-05-23 01:05:20 GMT
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:44 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:44:14 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:29 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:29:45 GMT
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:15:21 GMT
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:55:01 GMT
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
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