Boston mayoral candidates agree bus strike is 'shameful'

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – Both City Councilor John Connolly and Rep. Marty Walsh spoke out against the Boston bus strike which left thousands of students stranded Tuesday.

Connolly and Walsh both agree the bus drivers should get back to work.

Connolly told FOX 25's Sharman Sacchetti the bus strike is "shameful" and said the kids are being used as "political pawns."

Walsh, who picked up two key endorsements from former mayoral candidates Felix Arroyo and John Barros, said while he has a lot of union support, he is unfamiliar with the leadership of this particular union. He called for the drivers to get back to work.

Boston Mayor Tom Menino is frustrated and called the stoppage illegal. He thinks the leadership should be arrested or at the very least face some very harsh punishment.

Despite his union support, Walsh agreed with Menino and said action should be taken. He said he sides with the children and believes they were put in harm's way Tuesday morning as they waited for their buses.

Walsh didn't address a question about replacement workers because it's a private company, but he did say the company should stand and answer for this.

On Tuesday night, a federal judge turned down a request to force striking Boston school bus drivers back to work. Menino told parents schools will open an hour earlier and asked they find a way to get their children to school Wednesday morning.

Cox Media Group