A potential strike by school bus drivers in New Hampshire has officially been called off.
That’s after union drivers signed a five-year contract Wednesday night with their employer First Students after a weeks’ long labor dispute.
First Students, which provides bus drivers for dozens of school districts in New Hampshire, has been negotiating with drivers in Belmont since June.
But after agreeing to pay more into drivers’ retirement funds and increase wages – a five year deal was signed Wednesday night.
The Belmont facility includes 60 drivers who cover schools in the Lakes Region. But union bus drivers across the state pledged to also go on strike if a contract was not reached.
Jeff Padellaro of Teamsters Local 633 works for the union representing the Belmont drivers.
“You know we are glad to have this behind us – I know the membership is happy to have a new solid five-year deal in place and get back to normal transporting students to and from school safely and go about our business,” Padellaro said.
The union drivers signed off on a strike last month leaving many school districts unsure whether their students would have a ride to and from school these past few weeks.