BREAKING: Providence School Committee May Look to Replace First Student to End Bus Strike
Friday, October 05, 2018
Providence School Committee Chairman Nick Hemond has confirmed to GoLocal that the committee will take up a review of the transportation contracts with the City’s vendor First Student next Wednesday.
Presently, Teamsters Local 251 have been striking against the British-owned First Student company.
Hemond says the strike is taking its toll on Providence children and the education system.
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“It is now time to look at moving on. We need a viable transportation system for 9,000 children,” said Hemond in a phone interview with GoLocal.
The matter will be posted to the Providence School Committee’s agenda for Wednesday night.
This could be the first step to the city issuing a request for proposal for a new vendor.
First Student earned more than $30 million from the City of Providence between 2015 and 2017 calendar years.
Presently, the two parties are endlessly finger pointing. “First Student remains ready and willing to return to the negotiating table and work to bring this Teamster’s strike to an end,” said Frank McMahon, spokesperson for the company.
