BUS-DRIVER TALKS BREAK DOWN.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Staff Writer

Negotiations broke down Friday between striking school bus drivers and leaders of Los Angeles Unified's largest private bus contractor, sinking hopes that schedules would return to normal come Monday morning.

``The strike will continue indefinitely,'' said Don Owens, spokesman for Teamsters Local 572 representing the drivers in negotiations with Laidlaw Transit Inc.

Laidlaw Transit spokesman Jim Ferraro said the company reached an impasse with the Teamster drivers because their counterproposal - which would cost more than $20 million more over three years - was unrealistic.

``Talks broke off. There are no new scheduled dates at this time,'' Ferraro said.

The two sides have been quietly negotiating since February, with the union demanding a 5 percent raise for each of the next three years. Laidlaw has offered less than 2 percent a year.

The Teamsters called a strike early Tuesday, stranding more than 20,000 students along Laidlaw's 707 routes in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Hours-long delays were reported in getting some of the students to and from schools, although the waits grew shorter as the week progressed.

LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer said he was disappointed the talks had broken down.

``We need this strike to be settled, and I urge both sides to return to the bargaining table,'' Romer said in a prepared statement.

School board member Julie Korenstein said Friday that she will introduce a motion at Tuesday's board meeting pushing for a speedy resolution and urging that drivers get a living wage.

``Children are waiting. They're not getting to school on time or returning home on time and this eats into their education time,'' said Korenstein, who represents the San Fernando Valley.

``The bus drivers are the parents of our children and need a fair wage to take care of their little ones,'' she said.

Owens said the Teamsters are prepared to continue their strike until Laidlaw drivers get paid on par with the LAUSD's in-house drivers, who earn as much as $22 per hour.

Owens said the two sides were close to agreement on wages but health and pension benefits remained in dispute.

``We will stick with this until Laidlaw realizes the work that these drivers do is vital and precious to schoolchildren,'' Owens said.

Willie Crittendon, LAUSD director of operations, said parents and students should expect normal bus schedules Monday morning, despite the strike. And the district is continuing to explore ways to resume after- school sports programs, including renting charter buses.

``We do not foresee any additional problems with transporting students to school on Monday morning,'' Crittendon said. ``We've got it covered.''