Barrington, East Providence School Bus Drivers Authorize Strike

BARRINGTON, RI – The union that represents 200 school bus drivers, monitors and aides serving the Barrington and East Providence schools said a vote passed Monday night authorizing representatives of Teamsters Local 251 to call a strike. Teamsters Local 251 said negotiations for the drivers have been stalled since May 2019 with monitors and aides joining the union last month.

"Nobody likes to hear the word strike," said Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer Matt Taibi in statement. "We take the responsibility of a potential strike very seriously. We know that parents, students, schools, workers, and STA/Ocean State Transit will be inconvenienced in the event of a strike. A strike is something that we don't want to undertake, but under the circumstances it is a very good possibility. It is a last resort."

The union said the vote authorizes the representatives to call a strike at any time without further notice. Taibi accuses STA/Ocean State Transit, which provides busing for Barrington and East Providence, of unfair labor practices, worker intimidation and not negotiating in good faith.

The union said the bus drivers, monitors and aides plan to take their case to the East Providence School Committee meeting Tuesday night.

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