Baumann Bus To Lay Off Dozens Following Strike

Baumann Bus Company, Inc. — the company that made headlines locally for the last two weeks as its workers went on strike and threw the transportation for four Long Island school districts into chaos — announced on Tuesday that it will be laying off more than 100 workers because of the strike.

In a notice posted with the New York Department of Labor, Baumann cited losing contracts with the Rockville Centre and Hicksville school districts as the main reason it was laying off 134 workers right before Thanksgiving.

"Baumann Bus Company continued to refuse to bargain a fair contract with the union while the first few days of the strike," said Debra A. Hagan, president of TWU Local 252, which represents the workers. "This led to the company losing contracts to other providers. All affected union members receiving warn letters have the ability to work for the other companies who have acquired these contracts. Most of these companies are offering them benefits, including wages, above what they receive from Baumann Bus Company."

Drivers for the company recently went on strike for two weeks, fighting for, among other things, payment for snow days and holidays that fall within the work week. It took two weeks of arbitration, but the union and the company were finally able to come to an arrangement. The strike affected the Rockville Centre, Hicksville, Freeport and Baldwin school districts.

However, school districts and parents were scrambling to find transportation for kids for those two weeks. The strike led to Rockville Centre and Hicksville cancelling their contracts with Baumann.

Photo: Patch