300 Seattle school bus drivers threaten strike as contract dispute stalls

Hundreds of Seattle school bus drivers are threatening to strike amid a contract dispute with Zūm Transportation.

Teamsters Local 174 said approximately 300 drivers have authorized a walkout, accusing the company of refusing to agree to higher retirement contributions.

No strike date has been announced.

“We are extremely close to an agreement, with only one issue remaining. Zūm’s offer meets the statutory contribution requirement for retirement benefits,” a Zūm spokesperson told KIRO Newsradio in a prepared statement. “The remaining disagreement is not about how much Zum contributes toward drivers’ retirement benefits, but where those contributions go and who controls them.

“Under Zūm’s proposal, contributions go into accounts associated with individual employees, giving drivers greater flexibility, control and choice over their retirement benefits,” the statement continued. “The union now is seeking to redirect those contributions to the Pacific Coast Benefits Trust. We believe our drivers should retain control over their retirement benefits. Zūm deeply values our drivers and remains committed to negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that provides strong retirement benefits while preserving employee flexibility and choice.”

Jamie Fleming, a spokesperson for Teamsters Local 174, said the dispute began after the passage of House Bill 1248 — a law that requires contracted school bus companies to give their drivers the same benefits as drivers employed directly by school districts. The state would fund any increased costs.

“These increased costs would be borne by the state through the funding for the bill, meaning there was little incentive on the part of the company to pick a fight with the union,” Fleming said. “And yet, they did anyway, refusing to allocate funds for workers’ retirement as the law requires. Their continued refusal to bargain in good faith now has the group of 300 drivers on the brink of a major strike action.”

Teamsters Local 174 claimed Zūm’s inaction is denying bus drivers “a fair retirement.”

Bus drivers for Zūm previously voted to authorize a strike in 2023, one year after the transportation company agreed to a contract with SPS.

This threat of a strike comes just weeks after the Seattle Education Association (SEA), the union representing roughly 6,000 teachers and faculty, and SPS announced a tentative contract agreement late Sept. 1 — one day before the school year started — to avoid a strike.

SEA said teachers and other school employees were asking for better pay, smaller and more manageable class sizes, and support for special education services.

Zūm Transportation joins SPS, splits contract with First Student

SPS awarded a new contract — valued at over $68 million for the next three years — to transportation company Zūm Services back in 2022. The legacy provider, First Student, split the contract, valued at $135.6 million over the same period.

First Student had been the district’s yellow bus transportation provider for more than a decade. In February 2022, SPS awarded the full contract to First Student. Zūm appealed the decision through a series of official protests, alleging the district mistakenly inflated the price of its bid.

Following that alleged mistake, SPS walked back its award of the full contract to First Student. The district then decided both companies would receive at least 40% of the overall commission.

First Student disputed Zūm’s claims, citing a “misunderstanding of procurement guidelines and the discretion afforded SPS.” SPS could not be reached for comment on either allegation.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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