(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC) has reached a tentative contract agreement with First Student, averting a nationwide Strike that could have included thousands of School Bus Workers across 96 Locals.

The National First Student Master Agreement protects more than 17,000 Bus Workers across the country and was set to expire today (March 31st).

The deal comes after the Teamsters-represented Workers voted by an 88% margin to authorize a Strike, sending a clear message to the company that they were prepared to take action to win a fair contract.

“First Student Teamsters were unified and prepared to take on this company nationwide. Our solidarity forced real movement at the bargaining table and we delivered a contract in the eleventh hour that honors the critical work our Members do every day,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said. “Teamsters set the standard for the entire School Bus Industry and this agreement raises the bar for School Bus Transportation Workers everywhere.”

The new agreement establishes a national foundation for economics that will be applied across all Local agreements, including stronger retirement benefits, improved access to health care benefits and robust contractual protections for all Members.

These improved national minimum standards only serve to boost bargaining on important issues at the local level.

Teamsters at First Student will vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.

The Teamsters represents 1.3 million Members in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico

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