With contract talks stalled, private bus drivers for Bedford Central schools went on strike yesterday morning, resulting in a suspension of bus service in the district that could extend at least through Monday.

The school board adopted a resolution Wednesday night to declare an emergency and to authorize Superintendent of Schools Bruce Dennis to use his discretion in providing transportation for the children. Extra police officers were put in place yesterday morning and afternoon to keep traffic moving as roads were flooded with motorists dropping off and picking up students.

During the strike, school buildings in the district have been open one hour earlier than usual and two hours later to accommodate parents who drive their children to and from school.

"Things are actually going unbelievably well," said Dr. Dennis yesterday morning. "We've had incredible cooperation from our staff. People have been patient. I think it took people longer to get here than normal, but they started earlier."

On Wednesday, in a 49-3 vote, the drivers agreed to walk out on their employer. Baumann & Sons Buses, citing issues such sub-parity wages, a decrease in company-sponsored health benefits and the lack of a retirement plan. By a vote of 70 to 4, the drivers voted down what Baumann said was a final offer. The strike is not being supported by the drivers' union, Teamsters Local 456, which represents 91 drivers. bus monitors and mechanics who have been working without a contract since June.

"The last thing we want to do is strike,^" said Stan Rebackoff, the union shop steward, who was among the more than 40 picketers yesterday morning in front of the bus lot in Bedford Hills. "But Baumann management's take-it-or-leave-it approach has only been counterproductive."

He said, "At the most basic level, all we are asking is parity with the company's Yorktown operation. Those drivers have better salaries, better health benefits and are guaranteed 42 weeks of pay each year. Baumann's final offer didn't t even come close to what Yorktown drivers are getting."

The drivers of the 38-bus and 23-van fleet in Bedford Central have been operating under a contract that has increased pay $1.35 an hour over its five-year old term.

The drivers say Baumann's final offer would have raised starting wages by 50 cents an hour, but would have reduced guaranteed weekly hours from 30 to 25. The net result, they say, is a loss of $60.45 a week. The drivers also say they want Baumann to pay a greater share of the costs of health care.

Mr. Rebackoff said drivers make on average about $20,000 a year. Meanwhile they pay about $6,500 of the $9,500 cost of their health policy.

Only four or five of the union members broke the picket line yesterday, Mr. Rebackoff said.

The drivers and the bus company held eight meetings between June and this week.

"We took the final offer to our membership, and they voted it down 70 to 4," said Tom Lerner, a driver who has sat in on the meetings. "The very next day the teamsters drew up a letter that said we would go back to work under those terms until the contract can be resolved.

"We were ready to go back to work, unfortunately, under those terms,^" Mr. Lerner said, "but in no way, shape or form did we want it written on any piece of paper that we validate those terms in any way, and the teamster lawyer did that behind our back - they signed it and everything else. The drivers, who pay the union $4.50 a week, said they are planning to leave the union.

Mark Portnoy contract negotiator representing Baumann, said the strike is illegal. By law, he said, seven days' notice must be given before a strike.

"It's a wildcat strike," he said. "The union's opposing it, actively, and telling the workers that they're breaking the law. The union knows this is an illegal strike. This is not their way of doing business.

"We are caught in between," he said Wednesday. "We have been, as late as yesterday afternoon, meeting with the union and the workers, and we're ready to continue to meet, and we think that people shouldn't break the law.

"Our first concern is to see if we can find a way to get kids to and from school. That's the top priority. Find other people to do it or encourage these people to stop breaking the law and come back to work."

Regarding grievances concerning parity with other drivers in the region, Mr. Portnoy said, "it does vary a lot. There's enormous variation from place to place. The fact of the matter is that over time that's something that can be worked out, and when you're looking for a grandslam home run and you're ignoring all the other issues, it's very hard to deal with people."

In a statement to union members, Teamsters business manager Bernard Doyle on Wednesday said "a great deal of progress" has been made in contract talks.

"Baumann has already agreed to an increase in drivers' wages in the first year of the contract from 4 percent to 9 percent," he said, "with the majority of drivers receiving a 7 percent raise. With the typical school bus company contract in this area averaging 3.5-4 percent, we believe that we have made significant strides on your behalf."

Dr. Dennis said the district is working with Baumann to try to get the drivers back to work. In addition, the district is preparing a back-up plan.

"That's going to take some time," Dr. Dennis said. "(Baumann) claims to have some drivers willing to go to work. We would have to augment them, but we would have to make sure those drivers are certified, trained, knew the routes, and that would take us several days."

He said it's unlikely bus transportation will resume at least before Tuesday, unless the striking drivers go back to work.

"We are going to be working to help Baumann get his drivers back to work on the one hand and to protect ourselves to have alternative procedures in place," Dr. Dennis said. "Now it's not as if there are bus companies sitting around with 61 empty buses and 61 certified drivers already to rock and roll, but we've already started to make inquiries to other bus companies to get their vehicles inspected and certified and do what ever, and if we need to, as a last resort, to start decertifying his drivers and make other arrangements, we're going to do that.

"Our best recourse and our deepest wish," he said, "is to have his drivers come to their senses and come back to work."

The school district, which is more than 59 square miles, includes Mount Kisco and parts of Bedford, Pound Ridge, North Castle, and New Castle. The district this summer signed a five-year, $23 million agreement with Baumann, which provides service for 61 bus routes, sports and field trips. In all, about 3,700 district students are transported daily by Baumann.

Bedford Police Lt. Robert Mazurak said two extra officers were assigned yesterday morning to handle any potential traffic problems.

"It's going rather smoothly," he said just after school began at the elementary schools. "No problems have come to our attention so far. We're out where we're needed and what we're doing seems to be adequate."

He said if any problems arise the department will make adjustments for today's school day.

Despite the suspension of bus service yesterday, attendance was high. In all, said Dr. Dennis, 6.2 percent of the 4,075 students in the district were absent, which is only slightly higher than normal.