Despite strike vote, Seattle school district does not expect disruption to bus service

Despite their union authorizing a strike, First Student bus drivers in the Seattle School District remained on the job Tuesday. Their contract expired Monday.

The Seattle School District sent a letter to families and staff members Monday evening to alert them to the potential of a strike.

“While the district does not expect any disruption to bus service, SPS is preparing contingency plans,” the letter said. “If a strike does occur, the district will notify all affected families immediately.”

“A strong majority of those working for First Student voted over the weekend to authorize a strike against their employer,” Teamsters Local 174, which represents Seattle bus drivers, said in a Facebook post.

“This does not necessarily mean a strike will happen,” the district’s letter said.

In addition to bus drivers, Teamsters Local 174 represents school mechanics and dispatchers serving the Seattle School District.

The union said it could take advantage of a new Washington law requiring private school bus companies to offer worker benefits equivalent to those received by school district bus drivers.

Teamsters not ‘giving up’

“First Student workers and their union have been working together to climb a mountain for years, striving to reach equal footing with their peers who work directly for school districts,” Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks said. “Now that we are finally close and the summit is in sight, First Student has chosen to hold fast and refuse to continue bargaining…we aren’t giving up until we reach the top of that mountain.”

The union said it last went on strike against First Student in 2018.

According to the union, First Student employs about half of the school district’s bus drivers.

First Student ‘disappointed’

First Student said Monday afternoon they had not been advised of an imminent work stoppage.

“We have more negotiating sessions scheduled at the end of April,” the company said in an email. “We remain committed to reaching an agreement with Local 174 as soon as possible and encourage union leadership to join us in finding a resolution that prioritizes the best interests of our employees and the Seattle families who need us.”

“First Student is disappointed that Teamsters Local 174 membership has voted to authorize a strike,” the email said.  “We have been negotiating in good faith with union leadership since January to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).”

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