A potential strike among New York City school bus drivers is on pause for now, a top union leader told Gothamist Friday evening.
Tomas Fret, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 — which represents around half of the city's public school bus drivers — said conversations between the union and bus companies remain ongoing, but a strike during the first couple of weeks of schools is being put on hold.
“I did it for the city of New York, for the parents, for the children of New York,” Fret told Gothamist in a phone interview Friday.
"Negotiations are at a standstill but I’m hoping that we can reach an agreement sooner rather than later," he added. "We're far apart right now."
While Fret said the union wouldn’t strike within the first few weeks of the school year, which begins next week, a school bus driver strike isn’t entirely off the table.
“Make no mistake, there still might be a potential strike in the near future,” he said.
The Daily News first reported on the strike delay.
City officials were already bracing themselves for a strike, unveiling an emergency plan earlier this week that would issue MetroCards to students and pay for ride-hailing services if a strike among drivers took place.
Mayor Eric Adams’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story.
