Will SPS Bus Drivers Strike?

 Update, April 1:

Dear SPS families and staff, 

We want to provide an update on contract negotiations between one of our bus providers, First Student, and Teamsters 174, the union representing their drivers. 

On Saturday, the Teamsters voted to authorize a strike. This means the union now has the option to take action if an agreement is not reached. It does not necessarily mean a strike will happen. 

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is in contact with First Student, which is actively working to reach a resolution with the Teamsters through further negotiations.

end of update

 

 I just happened to go to the Seattle Schools' webpage and here was the top story:

One of Seattle Public Schools (SPS) contracted school bus providers, First Student, is currently in contract negotiations with Teamsters 174, their bus drivers’ union.

The Teamsters have scheduled a meeting for Saturday to vote on a possible strike authorization. This gives the union permission to take action if they cannot reach an agreement, but it does not guarantee a strike will occur.

In the event of a strike, the district will notify all affected families immediately.

Although the Teamsters’ contract is set to expire on Monday, March 31, both parties have agreed to continue negotiations.

At First Student, we are committed to negotiating in good faith with the union to reach a fair and mutually beneficial agreement as soon as possible. Their vote is simply a step in an ongoing process, and we remain focused on working collaboratively to ensure our drivers receive the support they need,” said Kim Worster, Senior Vice President of First Student. “Our top priority remains providing safe and reliable transportation for the students and families of Seattle Public Schools, and we are confident we can reach an agreement that reflects the hard work and dedication of our drivers while avoiding any interruptions in service.”

First Student provides approximately half of the district’s school bus service, with about 3,750 riders daily. SPS is not anticipating an impact on students who are served by the district’s other contracted transportation providers such as Zum, Hop, Skip, Ride, and others.

District leaders understand how this may cause some concern for your family, and we are sharing this information now to keep you informed. SPS is hopeful the situation will be resolved quickly. Both parties know how important it is to avoid disruption for students and families.

We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.

 

 

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