School bus drivers and monitors across several states reached new labor agreements or union milestones in 2025, addressing wages, benefits, and job protections amid ongoing workforce challenges in the student transportation sector.

Maryland Durham Workers Ratify Three-Year Contract

More than 150 school bus drivers and monitors at Durham School Services in Maryland ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement just before Thanksgiving last year, averting a potential strike. The workers are represented by Teamsters Local 570.

The new contract includes wage increases and benefit improvements intended to address quality-of-life concerns for drivers and monitors. Union leaders said the agreement reflected sustained negotiations and strong member participation.

The ratification followed months of bargaining and concluded without service disruptions for the school districts served.

Missouri First Student Workers Join Teamsters

In Missouri, more than 100 bus drivers and monitors at First Student voted to join Teamsters Local 838. The group provides transportation for the Hickman Mills School District.

By joining the union, the workers will be covered under the Teamsters First Student National Master Agreement, which establishes baseline standards for wages, benefits, and job protections across participating locations.

Organizing efforts focused on pay, benefits, and job stability, according to union representatives.

Connecticut All-Star Drivers Vote to Unionize

In Connecticut, 15 school bus drivers at All-Star Transportation in Washington voted Dec. 9 to join Teamsters Local 671. The drivers provide student transportation for Washington public schools.

The Washington location became the ninth All-Star Transportation operation in Connecticut to unionize with Local 671. Other unionized All-Star locations in the state include Harwinton, New Milford, Oxford, Region 20, Seymour, Torrington, Wolcott, and Waterbury.

Local 671 said recent first contracts negotiated with All-Star Transportation locations in Connecticut have included reduced wage progression periods, added paid holidays, attendance incentives, improved health coverage, pension access, and multi-year wage increases.

Rhode Island STA Subsidiary Joins Teamsters

Nearly 200 school bus drivers and attendants represented by Teamsters Local 251 voted to ratify a new contract at Ocean State Transit, a subsidiary of Student Transport of America (STA), according to a Dec. 15 announcement. 

The new contract includes an average 23% wage increase over three years, Teamsters pension and health care, additional paid holidays, and attendance and safety bonuses.

This group, which organized with the Teamsters in 2019, provides transportation for East Providence Schools, Barrington Schools, Achievement First, Paul Cuffee Schools, and Highland Charter Schools.

Teamsters Local 251 represents over 6,200 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

Illinois Student Transportation Workers Join Teamsters

Bus drivers, monitors, and trainers at Woodland Community Unit School District #5 in Illinois joined Teamsters Local 179 in mid-December last year.

The 76 bus workers provide student transportation for the district's grade school and high school.

"I supported joining the Teamsters because bus workers deserve a real voice at work," said Jaime Barhum, a bus driver at the district. "We know that we deserve better wages and working conditions, and we are ready to use our collective voice to achieve that."

Teamsters Local 179 represents workers in a variety of industries in Suburban Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Vermont Drivers Reach Agreement After Contract Dispute

In Vermont, school bus drivers and monitors employed by F.M. Kuzmeskus/Travel Kuz, owned by Beacon Mobility, finalized a five-year labor agreement with Teamsters Local 597 in September after months of labor disputes, the Battleboro Reformer reported. 

The agreement covers routes for the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, which serves elementary schools in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Putney, Guilford, and Vernon, as well as Brattleboro Union High School.

Earlier in the year, the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union Board renewed its contract with the company amid labor concerns raised by the union, including payroll delays and benefit payment issues. Families experienced disruptions at the start of the school year when replacement drivers operated routes during that the company described as a temporary lockout.

The finalized contract includes:

• A 26% wage increase for senior drivers over the life of the agreement

• Attendance bonuses and longevity pay increases

• Increased retirement contributions, doubling by the end of the contract

• Improved insurance cost sharing

• Financial penalties for late wage payments

• Continued picket line protection language

The agreement was reached shortly before the union was expected to begin strike activity.