NYC School Bus Driver Strike Could Affect 150K Kids, Chancellor Warns

NEW YORK CITY — A potential school bus driver strike could disrupt up to 150,000 New York City students' return to class this fall, warned schools Chancellor David Banks.

Whether the strike unfolds depends on contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union, Banks told a parent council Thursday.

"We don’t have a deal just yet," he said.

"I don't want to jump the gun yet ... But there is a possibility we might have an action with buses at the beginning of the school year."

A strike could 85,000 to 150,000 students, largely those in the youngest grade levels or with special needs, he said.

Banks said he expected to know more in the coming days about what could happen.

Schools spokesperson Nathaniel Styer said officials can't comment on ongoing negotiations.

He noted that the negotiations are different from most involving the city in that they're between bus companies contracting with the Department of Education and their employees, who are not city workers.

City officials will monitor the negotiations and pass along additional information to families, he said.

"As negotiations continue, we are developing several contingency plans, as a precaution, to ensure students can get to school in the event of a strike — including, but not limited to, providing students with emergency MetroCards, reimbursement for use of alternative transportation, and, in some cases, free rideshare," he said in a statement.

The New York Daily News first reported on the potential strike and Banks' warning.