NYC School Bus Strike Averted With Tentative Agreement

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A tentative agreement has been reached to avert a strike for 900 school bus drivers and attendants serving New York City public schools.

Teamsters Local 553 announced late Monday night that its members had reached a tentative agreement with Jofaz and Y&M school bus on a new contract, and all parties are pleased with the resolution.

Members still need to approve the agreement.

A midnight strike deadline had been looming over the talks.

Department of Education spokeswoman Devora Kaye said in a statement: "We are pleased to report that Jofaz Transportation and Y&M Transit have reached a tentative agreement with their bus drivers' union and all buses will operate tomorrow as usual. We are grateful to families and educators for their patience and support as we prepared contingency plans to ensure transportation alternatives for students and families."

Union members had said the companies want them to make healthcare contributions while taking away several paid holidays to cover paid sick days.

Demos Demopoulus of Teamsters Local 553 had said these workers couldn't afford it.

"These are people that are struggling to maintain middle class," he said.

The strike would have impacted 12,000 public school students and about 2,500 private school students in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said in the event of a strike, the city would have offered free Metro cards or reimbursements for car transportation to affected families.