The strike by New York City school bus drivers and aides will continue after union leaders proposed a "cooling off period" that officials rejected Wednesday.
Union President Michael Cordiello said that under the proposal, the drivers would have gone back to work during a 60 to 90 day period. In return, the city would have held off on putting the bus contracts out to bid.
The city contracts with private bus companies. It says it must seek competitive bids to save money.
Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union wants the new contracts to include job protections for current drivers.
Some buses have been running because their drivers are not members of the union.
The city's last school bus strike, in 1979, lasted 14 weeks.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
