With Labor Day looming, it's only fitting that members of Local 671 Teamsters Union are using the power of the strike.
Parents in Stafford got a notice from Superintendent of Schools, Steven A. Moccio, explaining that Stafford's bus drivers may be joining a strike as of September 5, 2023. While the labor dispute with M&J Transportation is actually with the Coventry school district, the notice says that the head of Local 671 has informed Moccio that the union is looking to extend the strike to all the districts it represents that use M&J.
Interestingly, this isn't the only transportation strike impacting schools right now. In Meriden, bus drivers, who also belong to Local 671, are already striking against New Britain Transportation.
Parents are advised to make alternate plans for pick-up and drop-off in the case that Coventry/M&J and Local 671 drivers are unable to come to an agreement and Stafford drivers choose to join the picket lines. Students whose parents aren't able to arrange for alternate transportation will receive excused absences. The strike could potentially impact the sports program as well, and parents are told to be on the lookout for additional communication from Athletic Director, Damian Frassinelli. Each school is making plans to allow for extended drop-off and pick-up times, but until next week it's unclear whether or not any of these extra steps will need to be taken.