Second Seattle Schools Bus Strike A 'Possibility'

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Public Schools warned parents Wednesday night that a second school bus strike is possible, but did not indicate when, if ever. School bus drivers held a one-day strike last Wednesday, but notified the district and parents the day before.

The union representing the bus drivers, Teamster Local 174, is involved in a labor dispute over health insurance with First Student, the company that provides bus service to all Seattle public schools.

Here's the statement from the district released Wednesday night:

Last week (Nov. 29), the Teamsters Union Local 174 who represent First Student bus drivers held a one-day strike, affecting 12,000 students. In the union's statement announcing the strike, they said "a longer strike can be called at any time if a deal is not reached."

We feel it is important to keep our families updated until the contract issues between the union and First Student, who we contract with for school bus service, are resolved.

Although we have no indication a second strike is immediate, it remains a possibility. Therefore, we encourage our families to keep their backup transportation plan current.

Unless there are significant developments that require immediate communication with our families, the district will provide weekly status updates on school and district websites and send email and phone calls to our bus-riding families.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the district was warning that a strike would occur Thursday. The district did not indicate when, if ever, another strike might happen.

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