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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A meeting with a federal mediator between striking school bus drivers in Providence and the private company overseeing the city's school bus operations has ended without a resolution to the dispute.
First Student said Tuesday night that discussions with Teamsters Local 251 had ended for the day, but they'll continue talking.
The strike began Sept. 27 due to a dispute over retirement benefits.
The union wants the company to commit to a Teamsters pension. First Student wants drivers to participate in a 401(k).
The strike is affecting more than 9,000 students. Officials say school attendance has dropped. The city isn't providing alternative transportation.
The ACLU of Rhode Island says it's planning legal actions on behalf of students with disabilities who are caught in the middle.
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