Now, about 300 members of Teamsters Local 174 say their biggest ask is a choice in where their retirement dollars go, and they're willing to strike over it.
School bus service could soon be disrupted for some Seattle Public Schools students as hundreds of drivers are prepared to walk off the job unless they reach a deal with the bus provider Zum Transportation over retirement benefits.
The company has a big footprint in Seattle. Over the summer, Zum announced its expansion to operate more than 280 bus routes for the district, and it hired 150 more drivers to cover 80% of the district's routes.
Now, about 300 members of Teamsters Local 174 say their biggest ask is a choice in where their retirement dollars go, and they're willing to strike over it.
The union has already authorized a strike, so it could happen at any time, leaving some Seattle Public Schools (SPS) families scrambling to figure out transportation to and from school.
"My aunts would also have to worry about who’s going to pick up their kids while they’re at work," Maggie Velasco from Seattle told KOMO News.
"[It's] very frustrating because if they go on strike, that affects a lot of people," another parent, who wanted to stay anonymous, added.
Specifically, the union seeks to redirect its retirement contributions from a plan with the payout dependent on investment performance to a Teamsters pension plan.
“A strike is an absolute last resort, especially in an industry like this,” Teamsters Local 174 Director of Communications Jamie Fleming explained. “The drivers care about the kids they pick up every day. They care about the families. They do not want to do this, and we’re hoping that Zum management doesn’t force our hand.”
In response, a Zum spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement that the company is ready to return to the bargaining table, though no meeting has been scheduled. The spokesperson added that the remaining disagreement is not about “how much Zum contributes toward drivers’ retirement benefits, but where those contributions go and who controls them.”
SPS reports that while the district does not expect any disruption to bus service at this time, it is preparing contingency plans but did not provide specifics. Teamsters Local 174 told KOMO News the last time it went on strike was in 2018 against another bus company, First Student, and it gave the district one day’s notice.
SPS has another bus operator, First Student, but the company recently laid off more than 100 employees and greatly reduced its Seattle operations.
