Warwick School Bus Drivers stage practice picket to demand First Student settle contract

“All we are asking is that First Student come to the negotiations table to reach a fair and just deal for our students and our community."

Update Wednesday, September 18, 29014:

After a strike threat, escalating job actions, and months of bargaining, Warwick Public School Bus Drivers, members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 618-Providence, RI, have reached a tentative agreement with contractor First Student, averting a strike. The members are expected to vote on the deal over the weekend.

After two days of intense bargaining between the Union and First Student, the parties reached a tentative agreement that addressed the workers’ critical issues and concerns.

“This is a great day for our Warwick School bus members,” said Local 618 President/Business Agent Walter Melillo. “Our members stood strong and united and fought hard for a fair contract. We are thankful for the outpouring of support from our parents and teachers. After months of negotiations, this contract recognizes our members for the heroes they truly are.”  

The tentative agreement includes significant wage increases, retirement security, and other improvements for the school bus drivers. The Union and First Student have been bargaining since April. After talks stalled this past summer, the school bus drivers overwhelmingly voted on August 6 to authorize a strike if necessary.

“I’m proud of our Warwick Public School bus drivers for their strength and unity to secure a tentative agreement with living wages that will allow them to provide for their families,” said ATU International President John Costa.  “This is a victory not only for these workers but for their students and parents who rely on our members to transport students to and from school safely. Thank you to everyone who supported us during these negotiations. From a strike authorization to your practice pickets, your solidarity made all the difference.”

Original story:

As contract talks went on inside the union hall of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 618-Providence this morning, bus drivers staged a practice picket outside demanding that Warwick Public School bus contractor First Student give them a fair and just contract.

“We care about our students who we transport each day and want to let their parents know that this disruption to school does not need to happen,” said Local 618 President/Business Agent Walter Melillo. “All we are asking is that First Student come to the negotiations table to reach a fair and just deal for our students and our community. Our members don’t want to walk off the job and this practice picket sends a loud and clear message to First Student.”

First Student is a longstanding contractor for Warwick Public Schools. The Union and the company have been bargaining since April. The outstanding issues are wages, health benefits, retirement, and other issues. School bus drivers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike on August 6 after talks stalled this past summer.

In a statement, ATU International President John Costa weighed in on the potential strike, saying that these workers deserve a fair contract and to be treated with dignity and respect on the job.

“Our members have the very important job of safely transporting students to school on time. They are dedicated to their students, this work, and their community, but they refuse to be treated with disrespect by a corporation that cares more about the bottom line than their employees and their students,” said Costa. “Our more than 200,000 members stand with them in their struggle for a better student transportation system for their community.”