Contract Guarantees Strong Future for School Bus Drivers, Dispatchers and Mechanics in Seattle School District
After a challenging negotiation process, a group of nearly 300 Teamster Local 174 members at First Student now have a strong new contract rewarding their valued work. The school bus drivers, dispatchers, and mechanics voted overwhelmingly in favor of a contract with First Student which makes monumental improvements to their contract economics and sets a new area standard for all Seattle school bus employees.
After almost eight years of lobbying the Washington State Legislature to pass a bill creating a level playing field for contracted transportation service employees in Washington State School Districts, Local 174 successfully secured the funding to provide affordable healthcare benefits and retirement security to our members with the passing of HB 1248. Passing this bill required tenacious hard work, especially by Local 174 members who testified before the Legislature many times. This bill not only transforms benefits for Local 174 contracted employees working in Seattle, but will apply to other contract providers working in School Districts across the State.
In addition, this offer also provides more time off for long-term workers and provides paid holidays for the first time in history. This contract is by far the best this group of workers has ever received, and it comes after a difficult negotiation that led to a strike vote several weeks ago.
“We are pleased the Employer came to understand their obligation with this new legislation rather than forcing an unnecessary labor dispute. These negotiations, led by Director of Negotiations Marcus Williams, will change these members’ lives immediately,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “School bus drivers have one of the most important jobs in this Local Union, safely transporting our most precious cargo – our children – to and from school every day. They deserve the respect they are receiving in this contract, and we are so happy for them and look forward to seeing how much these big contract improvements will affect them on a daily basis.”
“Our focus can now begin to shift to First Student’s major competitor in the Seattle area, which is Zūm Transportation,” Hicks continued. “The bar has been set, and we expect Zūm to rise to the occasion.”
Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.