The labor dispute centers on contract talks for workers serving Providence, Pawtucket, Lincoln, Smithfield, Central Falls, Bristol-Warren, Portsmouth, and West Warwick. Although union members voted to authorize a strike earlier this summer, the breakdown in local supplemental bargaining has brought the conflict to a head just as the school year commences.
Rhode Island School Bus Drivers Poised for September Strike
More than 750 school bus drivers represented by Teamsters Local 251 are set to walk off the job at First Student as early as September 2. The potential strike follows months of stalled negotiations over supplemental agreements, threatening to disrupt student transportation across eight Rhode Island communities and various statewide routes.
Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251, accused the company of failing to reach a resolution despite having the entire summer to negotiate. Gina Mota, a union steward based in Warren, emphasized that the workforce is seeking a reciprocal commitment from management regarding their workplace standards. With no immediate breakthrough, thousands of families across the state face the prospect of significant transportation delays if the walkout proceeds as planned.
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