One down, two to go. Bus driver strike averted Sunday in Framingham
FRAMINGHAM — A school bus driver strike that would have left thousands of students in Framingham unable to get to school has been averted, following a last-second deal between the drivers and the school bus vendor the community uses for busing.
However, WCVB-TV reported that Teamsters Local 170 announced late Sunday night that drivers who work Marlborough bus routes would strike. It means that about 55 school bus drivers in Marlborough will be off the road, and walking the picket line.
As of 11 p.m. Sunday, there was no school bus driver strike decision in Westborough, but also no deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
North Reading Transportation Inc., the vendor hired by the three communities, and Teamsters Local 170, the labor union representing bus drivers and monitors in the community, reached a labor agreement for Framingham Sunday evening, according to city officials. The drivers had threatened to strike on Monday, which would have left many students reliant on school bus transportation unable to get to and from school.
Earlier: Are Framingham, Marlborough and Westborough schools ready for a bus driver strike?
"To update everyone on the potential strike with NRT bus we have reached an agreement for the Framingham districts but continue to negotiate for Westborough and Marlborough," Marks posted on Facebook at about 9 p.m. Sunday. "We will update when we get something or if we strike. Local 170 is committed to getting this done and will stay here like we have all week."
Two hours later, WCVB-TV reported that a strike would occur in Marlborough.
Administrators from Framingham were in the middle of a press conference briefing the community on the ongoing negotiations and plans for Monday, when Mayor Charlie Sisitsky announced to the crowd that he had just spoken with the Teamsters and that a deal had been reached.
"I just spoke to the business manager of the Teamsters, they are going to sign the contract," Sisitksy said during the press conference, which took place about 6:15 p.m. Sunday.
Framingham Superintendent of Schools Bob Tremblay said he planned to send out information to parents about potential contingency plans for the strike, but was relieved that no longer needed to happen.
"I had planned to send out messaging to our families at 6:30 p.m. tonight about our plans, with the hope that this news might happen, so thank you, Mayor, for your efforts, and the City Council, and the School Committee for coming together in remarkable ways to make this happen," Tremblay said. "This is nothing short of a local miracle."
Tremblay said during the press conference that the impact a bus strike could have had on students would be devastating.
"We potentially could have had thousands of students not be able to come to school for the duration of the strike," he said. "Fortunately, as we understand it now, that is not the case, but we were prepared for the worst and hoping for the best, but as it comes out, the best as come to fruition."
Reimbursements for families: Framingham School Committee takes action on bus driver shortage
Sisitsky said he doesn't know what the terms of the agreement between the Teamsters Local 170 and NRT are, but did say there are still long-standing issues between Framingham and NRT when it comes to providing the requisite amount of buses that will need to be resolved going forward.
"It all depends on how things go moving forward with our contract with NRT," he said. "There are still issues moving forward with them providing enough drivers — we still need to work that out — but the big thing was the strike and now that is over."
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham bus driver strike is averted Sunday evening
