Comments

1
Taxpayers: expect your tax bills to go up or the level of service to go down, come next contract between SPS and their bus providers. Hell, wouldn’t be surprised if First Student sat the sidelines all together and made no bid - to make an example of the strikers, thousands of similarly situated employees across the country are watching. At some point it will make financial sense for SPS to get back in the business of hiring drivers again. Contracting out is a headache.
2
Price to go up, service to go down, or -- you didn't explicitly state the other option -- First Student profit margin to go down. And yeah, they may flounce out to make a point come renewal time. SPS can deal.
3
The city or district will probably have to take on the full responsibility for school transportation. Profit is the motivation for First Student to be in the business in the first place. In 1973 the district turned over transportation to the private sector; they felt it would be less expensive for them to operate. Costs for the operation would still be the same; the buses still have to be leased, insurance paid for, and maintenance. Paying the drivers would be different; the district had to know this. If the profit margin is too low then First Student will walk and the city or district or maybe King Co. Metro can take over. Even the "Socialist Worker" suggests this. Remember, First Student was the only bidder on the current contract; If the city council wants to micromanage businesses so much they should just take over as in the form of nationalization.

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