Burrillville School Bus Workers Secure Stronger Pay, Improved Benefits

(BURRILLVILLE, R.I.) – Nearly 50 school bus drivers, monitors, and aides represented by Teamsters Local 251 unanimously ratified their first agreement with DATTCO, a contractor for the Burrillville School District. The lucrative contract, which includes a substantial pay increase and boost in benefits, was ratified 10 months after DATTCO workers voted to join Local 251.

“School bus workers provide an invaluable service to communities around the country, and they deserve good pay and benefits,” said Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251 and Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. “Teamsters will continue to set and raise standards in the school bus industry.”

The three-year agreement includes an average wage increase of over 30 percent, strong workplace protections, access to Teamsters health care, and mandatory retirement contributions by the employer into a Teamsters plan.

“Today, we, DATTCO workers in Burrillville, celebrate the ratification of our first-ever collective bargaining agreement,” said Jeanette Runey, a driver at DATTCO. “This is a milestone for our yard and will improve our workplace tremendously. I am so proud to have been an active part of the negotiating committee, working tirelessly alongside my strong, dedicated colleagues and our union leaders to negotiate a contract that addresses our concerns and ensures fair treatment for all members of our union.”

Teamsters Local 251 represents more than 6,300 workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, go to teamsterslocal251.org.

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