Lawrence bus drivers prepared for possible strike after city changes contractor

Amid renegotiation of their contract, members of the local transit union are prepared to strike, raising the possibility that local bus service could come to a halt.

The city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas recently decided to hire a different company to operate their coordinated bus services. The City Commission voted in November to hire First Transit, which is set to replace longtime contractor MV Transportation on Jan. 1.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1754 President Justin Priest said that union members, at a meeting on Sunday, voted to strike. Priest explained that the vote doesn’t mean that drivers, mechanics and dispatchers won’t be showing up for their shifts, but the vote paves the way for a strike in the future if negotiations break down.

“If the negotiation part goes poorly, then we have the option,” Priest said. “We are giving ourselves the option.”