NEW YORK - Thousands of school bus drivers and attendants have been furloughed after their contracts were not renewed by the city while schools remain closed because of the pandemic.

Letters were sent out on Thursday to workers for at least eight bus companies.

More furloughs are expected in the next few days, and the move is expected to affect about 14,000 workers.

While on furlough, workers will not get paid and will not have health insurance.

Bus companies had been getting 85 percent of their normal rates from the city during the lockdown under a contract agreement.

But the Daily News says companies started the furloughs after the city failed to approve an emergency extension of those payments.

NY1 has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.