First Student bus drivers, monitors and aides who are members of SEIU 1199 New England announced on Oct. 25 that they plan to begin an open strike starting Nov. 2 at 5:30 a.m. Since June, 275 employees who work in the Lincoln, West Warwick and Cranston bus yards have been negotiating with their employer, First Student, but have been unable to reach a fair contract settlement that gives workers a pathway to economic self-sufficiency. First Student employees are calling on their employer, First Student, which is owned by a global investment organization with more than $67 billion in assets, to boost their hours to 30 hours per week minimum.

“The kids are our number one priority, and it’s on First Student to make sure that they have the best bus riding experience possible, starting with having enough drivers to get them back and forth to school each day. Workers deserve respect and the ability to support ourselves and our families while providing a service that’s essential for our communities,” said Mike McDermott, a bus driver at the Metro yard in Cranston.

A Tuesday press release stated that each day, SEIU 1199 New England members transport Rhode Island’s most vulnerable, getting kids to school safely, on time. They play a critical role in both the state’s education system and economy by allowing their parents to get to work knowing their children are safe. Many of the children have physical and behavioral needs that require special accommodations and increased attention.

“Right now, we are guaranteed 20 hours per week which doesn’t generate enough income to support an individual, let alone a family. While we do not do this work to become rich, we deserve to make livable wages. We do not take the decision to go on strike lightly, but our children deserve consistent schedules and the best possible experience getting to and from school and as First Student has a responsibility to make that a reality,” said Lorene Hamel, a First Student school bus driver of 10 years that works in Lincoln.

The majority of First Student bus drivers earn only around $450 a week and often struggle to find additional employment due to the restrictive driving schedule. In addition, drivers need a commercial drivers’ license to drive, which can require weeks of often unpaid training and testing. 

Many employees -- who are often over 65 years of age and at high risk for Covid -- have left the field, adding to a nationwide shortage of available, qualified drivers. Low pay, low hours and Covid safety concerns has created a vacuum of workers with First Student losing 25 percent to 30 percent of its employees over the last 18 months. Lack of staffing results in districts having to split bus runs and double up the amount of children on each bus, which both compromises safety and impacts schedules. Buses often arrive late, which is disruptive for all children, especially those with developmental disabilities.

Cranston Public Schools updated parents regarding the strike.

“In Cranston we have our own fleet of buses and employ our own drivers, monitors and aides. Therefore, we will not be largely impacted by this strike,” wrote the administration. “However, we do have some students who receive their transportation to and from school through First Student, and those students and families will be impacted by this strike. We will be reaching out to families to let them know if their children’s transportation will be impacted and we will be working with families to make sure that their children will have the transportation they need to get to school.”

The district told parents if they do not hear from CPS, then their children will not be impacted by the strike.