Framingham Schools Readying For Potential Bus Driver Strike

FRAMINGHAM, MA — School district officials in Framingham are readying for an impending bus driver strike that could begin as early as Monday.

The Teamsters Union Local 170 represents bus drivers in Framingham, Marlborough and Westborough. Union representatives have been negotiating for new driver contracts with NRT Bus, Inc., but those negotiations have not borne fruit.

Union representatives sent a notification to the three districts on April 27 that a bus driver strike could begin on May 8.

"We understand that a strike will be disruptive to school operations and may cause hardship for families. I am sending you this notice so you and Framingham families may plan accordingly," wrote Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer Shannon R. George.

This week, district officials said schools will remain open during the bus driver strike, should it happen, but also recognize the challenges it presents for parents and families.

"Because we cannot allow for remote learning, our goal is to ensure that as many students as possible attend school," Superintendent Robert Tremblay said, in a letter.

Tremblay added that the district is looking into alternative transportation for students who can't make it to school without their bus.

"We are working collaboratively with City Officials, the MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority (MWRTA), and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to get our students to school," he said.

Students who can't make it to school because of lack of transportation will be marked excused in the event of a strike.

Students who are transported to schools on specialized mini-van transportation will continue to have mini-van transportation to school as this service is not part of the potential strike, officials noted.

Framingham Public Schools aren't a part of the negotiations in any way, meaning they are only able to adjust as best they can.

"While I hope that NRT and the Teamsters Union reach an agreement, we must now prepare for the worst-case scenario to minimize interruptions to the important work of teaching and learning in our community," Tremblay said.