Letter: Bloomberg miscasts bus driver strike

School bus drivers in New York City went on strike to protect their job security and the fair pay and benefits they have earned ["School commute woes," News, Jan. 17]. Many parents support the union because they understand that reliable and well-trained drivers enhance the safety and well-being of their children, especially those with special needs.

Unfortunately, those voices were drowned out by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his fixation on the bottom line. The mayor claimed the courts would not allow the current Employment Protection Provisions, but that is not true. The mayor's politics drive his legal position, and he counts on the public to not understand. The city could certainly seek bids while protecting the jobs of experienced drivers and matrons.

John Durso, Hauppauge

Editor's note: The writer is the president of the Long Island Federation of Labor.