Five-Year Deal Strengthens Protections and Raises Standards Nationwide
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Teamsters at First Student have ratified a five-year contract, securing stronger protections, improved benefits, and safer working conditions impacting over 22,000 school bus workers across the country. The agreement was secured following a credible strike threat across 96 locals that would have impacted school bus routes nationwide.
“First Student Teamsters refused to settle for the status quo and fought for an agreement that delivers real improvements,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Our members were ready to act and hold this company accountable if they failed to deliver the deal workers more than deserved. This contract strengthens job protections, improves retirement security, and will continue to raise the bar for school bus workers everywhere.”
The new agreement includes improvements such as increased access to health care benefits, new minimum standards for retirement contributions that will provide pension contributions for the first time to more than 10,000 workers, and expanded leave protections. It also creates a standalone article governing video and audio technology on buses, including protections against misuse of data and requirements for future national negotiations over changes to camera systems.
“This agreement is a powerful victory that will make a real difference for our members for years to come,” said Matt Taibi, Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. “Thousands of First Student Teamsters show up every day to transport students safely to and from school and to help keep communities running. We’re proud that this contract reflects how they stood together to win stronger standards on retirement, leave, safety, and working conditions.”
The First Student National Master Agreement impacts over 17,000 Teamsters and 5,000 additional school bus workers nationwide. As First Student Teamsters practice picketed at bus yards across the country, the Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee reached a tentative agreement just hours before the contract expired on March 31.
“For a lot of us, this contract means less stress and more stability for our families,” said Kelly Plaisted, a school bus worker with Teamsters Local 633 in New Hampshire and member of the negotiating committee. “We love what we do and take a lot of pride in safely getting kids to school every day. This agreement gives us stronger protections and better conditions so we can continue to do that job the right way.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279
LMelentijevic@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
