Bus drivers to head back to work Monday with retirement plan

October 13, 2018 11:25 pm

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Bus drivers in the city of Providence are heading back to work on Monday with a retirement plan, after almost two and half weeks of striking.

Teamsters Local 251 voted almost unanimously Saturday night to pass an agreement with First Student that gives them a pension.

“They got the pension, they got everything they were asking for, they were very happy,” said union spokesperson Nick Williams.

Bus drivers erupted in cheers as they left the Teamsters Local 251 hall after the vote. Williams said 101 were present, with 100 members voting to pass the agreement and one abstaining.

Williams said the New England Teamsters Savings and Investment Plan is a direct contribution plan, meaning First Student will contribute 50 cents per hour worked the first two years and a dollar after the third.

“We have a secure retirement, and we also have the word of the school department that they will create an oversight board to make sure that First Student is making the contributions because that was a problem from the beginning,” said Williams.

Workers spent 11 days on the picket line, demanding a pension plan. First Student wasn’t budging, but the two sides came to an agreement Friday night following pressure from the Mayor’s office.

“We had to find a common ground and meet in the middle and I think both sides realized that and that’s what we did.”

First Student released a statement after the ratification, saying they’re pleased with the vote, and look forward to welcoming back drivers.

“We stayed focused, we knew what we wanted. We fought for it and we got it,” said union steward Jan August.

Mayor Jorge Elorza released a statement on the vote, saying he’s happy the strike is over.

“The strike has caused an undue burden on so many families in our school community and I’m happy that it is over. I look forward to having the school buses back on the road as soon as possible.”

Workers can start accruing for their pensions starting January 1, 2019.