PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A private bus company contracted by the city of Providence to take students to school says it won’t accept $600,000 the city offered for the time its bus drivers went on strike.
First Student spokesman Frank McMahon said in a statement the company was appreciative of the city’s offer but that it “decided not to seek the financial support.”
Mayor Jorge Elorza had offered to pay First Student $300,000 per year for the next two years.
Bus drivers launched an 11-day walkout on Sept. 27 in a dispute over retirement benefits. More than 9,000 students were affected.
Bus drivers returned to work after voting to approve a new contract with increased retirement contributions.
Councilman Sam Zurier plans to question the provision that protected the company during the strike.
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