More than 100 school bus drivers in Connecticut could go on strike starting Monday morning, with the potential to upend student pickups and drop-offs at multiple school districts.
Here's what families need to know about the looming strike.
What's happening?
An Oct. 6 school bus workers strike hinges on contract negotiations between Teamsters Local 671, the union representing more than 100 bus drivers and monitors in the Cromwell and Middletown school districts, and their employer, DATTCO.
The union agreed to continue negotiations with DATTCO until Sunday, Oct. 5.
"Teamsters Local 671 awaits DATTCO’s last, best and final offer to Middletown and Cromwell school bus workers, after having agreed to contract extensions for the third – and final – time," union officials said in a news release Oct. 1.
Who's going on strike?
About 110 school bus drivers and monitors in the Cromwell and Middletown school districts would go on strike.
More For You
Because the picket line could extend to five more bus yards — where the union represents about 70 drivers in East Hartford, 45 in Bloomfield, 15 in Coventry, 12 in Hebron and 40 in Windsor — about 292 bus workers in total could participate in the strike or honor the picket line and not work.
That could impact multiple school districts.
How will this affect school transportation?
Some school district officials have already warned families that the strike could cause disruptions.
So far, the Middletown, Cromwell and East Hartford school districts have all said the strike could jeopardize school transportation.
East Hartford Public Schools drivers approved a new contract on Oct. 1, but they, and drivers in other towns, could still walk off the job in the coming week in solidarity with the Middletown and Cromwell drivers and monitors.
Districts have acknowledged that finding alternative school transportation would be difficult, and officials in Cromwell and East Hartford told families they were working on plans for accommodating early drop-offs and late pickups at the schools. Middletown is also working to develop contingency plans that could be implemented if a strike occurs, the district said.
Families in districts where the picket line may be extended should check with their local district to see how they may be affected.
What should families do to prepare?
Ahead of the strike, here are a few options to keep in mind, based on some of the district-issued guidance.
When will we know if the strike is happening?
The union agreed to a contract extension with DATTCO until Oct. 5 at midnight.
What time would it start?
If a contract agreement isn't reached, the Middletown and Cromwell school bus drivers and monitors would go on strike starting Monday, Oct. 6, from 5:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., according to union officials.
This would take place at the DATTCO bus yard at 131 Tuttle Road in Middletown.
Natasha Sokoloff is a reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group covering education across the state. She reports on both K-12 schools and higher education, from federal and state policy impacts to inequities and other issues in Connecticut schools. She is originally from Southern California and graduated from the University of Richmond with a double major in journalism and leadership studies. Natasha previously covered the Farmington Valley area and has experience covering local news, public affairs and politics, art, education and social justice issues.