School transportation providers consider withholding service on the first day of classes over outstanding debt

By THE STAR STAFF

School Transport Providers Federation President José Rosado announced that the protest originally scheduled for Monday was postponed to allow for a meeting with Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés regarding a $17 million debt owed drivers dating back to 2021.

“We have decided to give dialogue a chance and hear what solutions the secretary proposes,” Rosado stated in a written release. “However, we can no longer live on promises alone. Between one promise and the next, payment never arrives, and we transport providers continue to shoulder the entire burden.”

Rosado said that if the secretary’s responses prove unsatisfactory, they will stage a work stoppage this Thursday -- the scheduled start date for the new public school year.

“If, once again, there is no concrete response or fulfilled commitment, we will consider a stoppage,” he said. “We do not want to affect the students, but the government has driven us to this point. Unfortunately, it is only when we apply pressure that we are finally heard.”

“We transport providers also have obligations, as well as employees and families who depend on this work,” Rosado added. “We cannot continue to finance a service that the government contracted and has already benefited from. We need payment to be made so we can keep operating.”