Catherwood LibraryILR School

School bus drivers in two Rhode Island school districts will no longer take strike action after a tentative agreement was reached. School bus drivers are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Employees, and the union represents over one hundred First Student bus drivers. First Student is a major provider of bus services for public and private schools throughout the state. First Student had to take on 31 new routes this school year because another school bus company was unable to service these routes. The previous contract between First Student and the unionized drivers expired at the end of June. Negotiations started in April but an agreement was not reached and drivers voted in favor of strike authorization in early August. The two parties agreed on a tentative contract after negotiations began again this month, and the contract will increase driver wages, improve healthcare benefits, and expand retirement options.