The Seattle School Board has put its $22.4 million bus-services contract up for bid with an unusual requirement that prospective bidders seek "harmony" with labor unions.

The move, which goes against the wishes of the district's top transportation manager, could cost the district more money and reverses a board decision three years ago to cut costs by choosing nonunion bus operators.

Customarily, the School Board has competitively bid its bus contract every five years, but this time the bidding will be two years ahead of schedule.

Nearly three years ago a previous School Board signed contracts with two nonunion operators, First Student and Durham Transportation, and dumped Laidlaw Education Services, which had been the district's prime contractor for 30 years.

Laidlaw's drivers and mechanics were represented by the Teamsters and Machinists unions.

This week, bus drivers from First Student protested the board's actions and said the board had caved to union pressure.

"How are you going to justify to the taxpayers of the school district this added expense when you're cutting money for student programs?" asked one driver, Marcia Lashua, who previously worked for Laidlaw.

"You the board have appointed yourself to unionize the bus drivers," said another First Student driver, Virginia Wallin. "Even though three of your colleagues are handsomely backed by unions, this is not your decision to make. This is our decision to make."

Board President Brita Butler-Wall said any decision about union representation would be up to the drivers. While she supports the drivers' right to organize, she rejected the notion that re-bidding the contract was payback for union support to her election campaign.

"I was a parent and testified [on Laidlaw's behalf] when Laidlaw was on the verge of losing the contract," Butler-Wall said. "I think it's a little bit of a chicken-and-an-egg situation. ... I am personally sympathetic to labor."

Butler-Wall a year ago proposed that the district stop buying Darigold milk because of the dairy processor's lengthy lockout of its employees. The proposal was withdrawn days before a vote on Seattle school levies.

The School Board's decision to re-bid the bus contract caught First Student by surprise. Cal Hull, the company's senior regional vice president, said bus operators make investments anticipating they will have the contract renewed annually for four years, as has been customary in Seattle.

"We have not at this point decided that there's reason to take legal action, but we certainly are looking at that," Hull said.

Hull said his company has 13 years' history with the Seattle district and serves about 50 school districts west of the Mississippi River. For the Seattle district contract, it employs about 425 staff members.

Last year, bus drivers for Durham Transportation told the board that their employer intimidated union supporters who tried to organize in their workplace. Durham officials, who couldn't be reached for comment yesterday, disputed those allegations at a later board meeting.

Some board members also say Durham and First Student never made good on promises after they won the contract three years ago to hire Laidlaw drivers at pay levels recognizing their years of service.

The "labor harmony" agreements for prospective bidders mean companies must provide for "the lawful and peaceful resolution of disputes" involving union efforts to organize drivers, according to district records.

Bids are due March 10. Whoever wins the bid would begin busing students for the 2005-06 school year.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com