School bus drivers in three Rhode Island communities vote to authorize a strike
School bus drivers for the Scituate, Bristol Warren and Pawtucket school districts have voted to authorize a strike, according to Teamsters Local 251.
"These essential workers haven't received a raise during the height of the pandemic, as the industry has seen a shortage of workers," Matthew Taibi, secretary treasurer for Local 251, said in a statement.
Bus drivers in Scituate voted to unionize last year "and have patiently been waiting for a first contract" ever since, Taibi said. Other districts are in the midst of negotiations.
First Student, which employs the drivers, has "stalled in bargaining with Local 251 and has frustrated everyone involved," Taibi said. "This frustration certainly doesn't help with the worker shortage in the industry, as qualified workers have sought other opportunities."
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"First Student is negotiating with Local 251, and we are hopeful that a fair and equitable agreement can be reached soon," Frank McMahon, a spokesman for the company, said in an email. "In the meantime, we remain committed to providing the best transportation service possible to the families we serve."
Bus drivers in Smithfield, who are employed by Durham School Services and unionized last year, also voted to authorize a strike earlier this month. "The last straw was the paltry raises offered by Durham, which is the third largest school transportation service in the United States," Teamsters Local 251 said at the time.
"We can confirm that we have been actively bargaining with the Teamster’s Local 251 with the assistance of a federal mediator," Edward Flavin, a spokesman for Durham's parent company, said in an email. "We met with them on Friday, November 12, and we continue to bargain and negotiate in good faith. We additionally have two more dates to continue to work towards an agreement. It is our intent to continue meeting, communicating, and bargaining until we reach an agreement."
Last month, school bus drivers in Warwick came close to going on strike, but First Student and the local unit of the Amalgamated Transit Union ultimately agreed to continue contract talks.
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Taibi said drivers in the three districts where drivers voted to strike had been facing layoffs on days when school took place virtually, while already working part-time and doing split shifts. The union has pushed for future contracts to guarantee that bus drivers get 180 paid workdays each year.
"Hopefully the company has gotten the message loud and clear," Taibi said. "The workers love working with their students and hope the company doesn't force them to strike for a fair contract."
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pawtucket, Scituate, and Bristol Warren bus drivers vote on strike
