First Student bus drivers, monitors and aides who are members of SEIU 1199 New England today announced they plan to begin an open strike beginning November 2 at 5:30am. 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 contract settlement that gives workers a pathway to “economic self-sufficiency” in terms of hours and pay. First Student employees are calling on their employer, which is owned by a global investment organization with more than $67 billion in assets, to boost their hours from 20 to 30 hours per week minimum. Public schools in Cranston, West Warwick, Lincoln and private and specialty schools across the state will be impacted.

“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,” said Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199 New England, who emceed this morning’s announcement.

First Student has offered an increase in hours, but no increases in pay. At a time of rising inflation, holding wages level amounts to a pay cut.

“Right now, we are guaranteed 20 hours per week which doesn’t generate enough income to support an individual, let alone a family,” said Lorene Hamel, a First Student school bus driver of ten years that works in Lincoln. “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.”

Each day, these workers transport Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children, getting them to school safely and on time. First Student employees note that 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. A 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.

As such, 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% to 30% of its employees over the last 18 months. Lack of staffing results in districts having to split up 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.

“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,” said Mike McDermott, a bus driver at the Metro yard in Cranston. “Workers deserve respect and the ability to support ourselves and our families while providing a service that’s essential for our communities.”

Attending today’s announcement were State Senator Frank Ciccone (Democrat, District 7, North Providence), Representative Evan Shanley (Democrat, District 24, Warwick) and Representative David Bennett (Democrat, District 20, Warwick).