About 170 members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 who work at First Student in New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, N.Y., recently ratified a strong, new contract with substantial gains across the board. First Student is a transportation service provider serving New Rochelle and Mount Vernon public schools and the workers are employed as school bus drivers, van drivers and monitors.
The three-year contract provides wage increases in each year of the agreement and significantly improves income stability, with guaranteed minimum hours increasing by 20 percent during the life of the contract. An additional guaranteed week of work was also secured, giving members the opportunity to substantially increase their annual earnings.
The combined wage and schedule increases are projected to increase annual earnings by roughly 40 percent during the next two and a half years. Longevity and performance bonuses were both doubled, and members will now earn an additional $1 per hour when training new employees. The contract also doubles the 401(k) employer match and adds an extra personal day.
The contract win was driven by strong member engagement. “We could not have achieved this without the dedication of the negotiating committee, each of whom attended every single session and remained vocal, active, and united throughout the process,” said RWDSU Local 338 President John Durso. “Their presence sent a clear message of strength and solidarity at the table, and we thank them for their hard work and dedication.”