School Bus Company Announces Mass Layoffs In CT After Not Receiving Contract In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — First Student, the Ohio-based busing company, has announced it will lay off 140 employees from its Stamford location after not receiving a transportation contract from Greenwich Public Schools.

The regional director of human resources for First Student detailed the layoffs in a letter dated June 20 to the Connecticut Department of Labor's Rapid Response Unit.

"The affected employees are represented by their union, which has already been notified of the situation," the letter said. "All impacted employees are receiving written notification, which outlines important details and next steps."

According to the letter, the permanent layoffs will go into effect beginning July 1.

Greenwich Public Schools, which had been using First Student for several years, will switch to a different bus company for next school year.

"We have moved to DATTCO who were willing to work not only economically with the district, but also worked with our driver’s union in a positive way," Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones said in a statement to Patch.

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First Student said in the letter it will be "permanently closing its location in Greenwich," although the listed address for the layoffs is 328 Selleck St. in Stamford.

"Severance will not be provided, except as specified in the current collective bargaining agreement," the letter said. There is a transfer opportunity with a $2,000 retention bonus.

Drivers were onboarded by DATTCO last week, according to the school district.