Rhode Island School Bus Workers Win Bigger Pay and Benefits in Teamsters Contract

Workers ratify deal that changes pay and job life for drivers and attendants

School bus drivers and attendants represented by Teamsters Local 251 in Rhode Island have overwhelmingly approved a new multi-year contract that raises pay and improves benefits. The vote, completed this week, follows months of talks and comes as districts across the state wrestle with chronic driver shortages and rising operating costs.

Members say the agreement will make their work more sustainable and predictable, with clearer schedules, higher take-home pay and strengthened health and retirement protections. For many families who rely on consistent school transportation, the deal is meant to cut down on last-minute cancellations and two-driver runs that have disrupted routes in recent years.

What the deal changes for pay, healthcare and working rules

The contract runs four years and phases in a series of scheduled wage increases for all classifications of school transportation staff. Drivers and attendants will see the first raise take effect immediately, followed by additional increases in each of the next three years. Taken together, the package delivers roughly a mid-teens cumulative raise over the life of the agreement, with larger lifts in the early years to help with retention.

Healthcare terms were a central priority. The contract secures continued access to Teamsters-affiliated health plans, with employer contributions increased so most members face no new premium costs for the life of the deal. The new language also adds clearer rules for coverage during seasonal breaks and establishes a short-term disability top-up for qualifying absences.

Pension commitments were improved: the employer agreed to increase its contribution rate to the Teamsters pension fund and to accelerate vesting for workers with several years of service. The result is a stronger path to a predictable retirement for long-tenured drivers who previously faced slow accrual.

Other notable non-wage items include a faster step progression for pay scales, a cost-of-living adjustment tied to inflation with a modest floor so workers keep pace during sharp price rises, and new contractual limits on last-minute schedule changes. The agreement also boosts overtime pay, requires additional safety and driver training hours paid at work rates, and expands paid sick leave and bereavement language.

How the union got here and what members said at the vote

Negotiations stretched several months, with formal bargaining sessions, mediator involvement and targeted overtime concessions on both sides before the final text. Turnout for the ratification vote was high among members eligible to vote, and the ballot passed by a comfortable margin.

Local 251 leaders framed the contract as a clear win. “This agreement recognizes the difficult work our members do every day,” said a Local 251 representative after the tally. “We won real raises and protections that will keep drivers and attendants on the job.” Several members at the vote echoed that view, saying higher pay and steady hours would make it easier to keep working through the winter and next school year.

What this means for Ocean State Transit and local budgets

Ocean State Transit, the contractor operating many of the affected routes, issued a brief statement acknowledging the ratification and saying it will implement the contract while reviewing its budget and route plans. The company faces higher labor costs immediately and must factor the new wage and benefits schedule into bids and invoices to districts.

Municipalities and school districts that buy contracted bus service will see those costs reflected in this year’s or next year’s budgets. For some towns, that will mean reallocating funds, trimming non-essential services, or tapping reserves. In a few districts already operating on thin margins, officials might seek contract adjustments with the carrier or consider modest route consolidations.

The deal is unlikely to change student fares — most school transportation is free — but it could affect broader tax and budget conversations. Counties and state education agencies may face pressure to provide additional support or to allow more flexible funding so districts can keep full route coverage without sudden cuts.

How this fits into regional trends in school transportation

The Local 251 agreement follows a wave of bus-driver contracts across New England that have boosted pay and benefits to battle a tight labor market. Districts from Massachusetts to Connecticut have offered sign-on bonuses, higher starting wages and richer health plans in recent years to recruit workers.

Those measures have eased shortages in some pockets, but counties still report high turnover and vacancy rates compared with a few years ago. Inflation and higher living costs have made earlier pay scales untenable for many workers, prompting unions to press for multi-year deals that include both immediate raises and long-term protections like stronger pensions and COLA language.

When changes take effect and what to watch next

The first wage increase and benefit changes begin soon, with the full schedule rolling out over the contract term. Implementation requires administrative steps from Ocean State Transit and routine payroll updates; union leaders said they expect a smooth start but will monitor compliance closely.

Watch for town budget votes in the coming months, the company’s next round of contract bids to districts, and any arbitration filings if disputes over scheduling or benefit interpretation arise. For workers, the deal should bring steadier pay and clearer protections; for taxpayers and school leaders, it marks a moment to reckon with higher recurring transportation costs.