School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Los Angeles School Bus Drivers, Support Staff Cancel Strike Plans

A one-day work stoppage is called off after the union and school district take steps to resolve labor practice issues and reach an agreement on wage increases.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
May 10, 2018
2 min to read


LOS ANGELES — A one-day work stoppage that had been planned for next week by a union supporting school bus drivers and other school support staff members has been canceled after leaders reached a tentative agreement Tuesday evening.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (USD) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 99 chapter, which includes cafeteria workers, special-education assistants, and custodians, in addition to bus drivers, reached a tentative agreement and will schedule a ratification vote soon, the union announced on its website.

The three-year agreement takes steps to resolve what the union said were unfair labor practices, and includes wage increases. Provisions in the agreement include continuing to fight against a cut in hours for special-education assistants, and resolving or submitting other unfair labor practice charges to arbitration. Union members will receive a 3% or 4% raise retroactive to July 1, 2017, as soon as the contract is ratified. Other improvements for bus drivers include the right to work additional hours and fewer steps in the bus driver wage scale to achieve the maximum wage.

The district and the union had been in negotiations on a new labor contract for more than 16 months, KPCC reports.

After talks between the district and the union stalled, mainly over the issue of pay increases, Los Angeles USD declared an impasse on Friday, and the union announced on Sunday that it was planning a 24-hour work stoppage for May 15. In a statement on its website, the union said that the strike was planned in response to the district’s decision to unilaterally reduce hours for special-education assistants during negotiations. Additionally, the union had filed charges over “discrimination and coercion of workers engaging in union activities.”

Members of the district’s teachers union told Los Angeles USD that their teachers would not cross the picket lines, potentially causing the district to have to close schools during the strike, according to KPCC.

More Management

Group of School Bus Fleet 2026 Trailblazers above a graphic announcing that nominations are open for the 2027 SBF Trailblazers, with submissions due Dec. 14, 2026.
Management•by Staff•October 6, 2026

Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!

We’re searching for the next generation of leaders making an impact across the K-12 student transportation industry to recognize as SBF’s 2027 Trailblazers. Nominations are open now!

Read More →
Graphic for School Bus Fleet’s September 2026 “Changing Lanes” personnel roundup featuring headshots of seven school transportation industry professionals who recently changed roles.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 2, 2026

Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation suppliers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Read More →
Graphic featuring several yellow school buses with the headline, “The Most Expensive School Bus Resale Mistake,” and images representing maintenance, auctions, and resale value.
Management•by Steve Mitchell•October 1, 2026

The Most Expensive Thing You Do Before Selling a School Bus: Wait

When should you sell an aging school bus? Learn how maintenance, mileage, corrosion, specifications, and timing can affect resale value long before the auction.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A lineup of Krise Transportation vehicles, including Type A and conventional school buses and passenger vans, with one wheelchair-accessible van shown with its lift extended.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•September 30, 2026

American Student Transportation Partners Acquires AJ Myers and Sons

A new deal brings a 75-year Pennsylvania student transportation provider into one of the nation’s largest private school bus contracting groups.

Read More →
Bernando Brown of DeKalb County Schools speaks during a session at the 2026 School Bus Fleet ConneX in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Management•September 29, 2026

What I Brought Home From SBFX: Relationships, Leadership, and Preparing What's Next

Who could lead your transportation operation tomorrow if you couldn't? Bernando Brown explores succession planning, mentorship, and preparing emerging leaders to step up.

Read More →
Collage from the 2026 School Bus Fleet Connex event showing attendees posing for a group photo, a presenter speaking onstage, two attendees taking a selfie, and participants meeting one-on-one.
Management•by Staff•September 29, 2026

Inside School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026: Industry Leaders Connect in Scottsdale [Photos]

See highlights from SBFX 2026 in Arizona, where school bus operators and suppliers gathered for meetings, education, networking, awards, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Attendees seated at banquet tables during a School Bus Fleet ConneX 2026 event, with a speaker at the podium and SBFX signage onstage.
Management•by Elora Haynes•September 28, 2026

School Transportation’s Biggest Pressures and Opportunities: SBFX Attendees Weigh In

School bus operators point to rising costs, staffing, and vehicle prices as immediate pressures while identifying technology, training, and routing as opportunities for growth.

Read More →
Three Sunrise-branded student transportation vehicles — a black SUV, silver minivan, and white passenger van — parked together in a residential neighborhood.
Management•by News/Media Release•September 25, 2026

STA Acquires Sunrise Transportation

Student Transportation of America expands in Illinois and Connecticut through Sunrise's fleet of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

Read More →
EPA DERA funding graphic featuring a yellow school bus beneath a blue sky with the EPA logo and the words “DERA Funding Returns!”
Alternative Fuels•by Amanda Huggett•September 25, 2026

EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades

The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A driver in an orange t-shirt uses a smartphone mounted on a vehicle dashboard to access HopSkipDrive’s app.
Technology•by Elora Haynes•September 24, 2026

HopSkipDrive’s CareEngine Targets the ‘Exceptions’ in Student Transportation

The new platform works alongside districts’ existing transportation management systems to coordinate specialized rides, automate last-minute changes, and turn ride data into operational improvements.

Read More →