August 29, 2014
By Stephanie West
With just days remaining before New York City children return to school, Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed into law Int 449, legislation that would help to maintain an experienced and well-trained workforce in our City’s school bus industry. The bill’s passage and signing highlight the support that school bus drivers have received from the Administration and City Council.
Council Member I. Daneek Miller (D – St. Albans), has been the primary sponsor of this legislation. He has also authored a Council resolution calling on Albany to mandate employee safeguards for school bus workers as part of all current and future bus contracts.
“The value of this legislation cannot be overestimated and I am very proud that the City Council and the Mayor have put this plan into action. It has the potential to save thousands of jobs for school bus workers, keeping the most experienced and well-trained on the job in order to provide safe transportation for our children.
School buses are the first and last lines of contact our children have with the school system on a daily basis. The time students spend on these buses during their morning and afternoon commutes frames their educational experience," said Council Member I. Daneek Miller.
"This law, along with the request that the City Council has made to Albany to require employee protection provisions in all school bus contracts, will allow for the best workforce to be retained and maintained by this industry. With this, we can provide safe, timely, and an all-around positive commute for our children. This will also protect workers, thousands who are currently struggling to provide for their own families under the contracts put out by the previous administration," Continued Councilman Miller.
