MSBSD school bus workers announce strike date as negotiations stall

School bus workers for Durham School Services in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) announced that they will be initiating a work stoppage starting Monday, March 2. The stoppage is a result of continued delays in negotiations between employees and Durham.

“This unfortunate work stoppage is the result of Durham’s unwillingness to make the movement needed to reach an agreement, its failure to promptly return to the bargaining table, and its unwillingness to timely provide information requested by the Union,” wrote Gary Dixon, Secretary-Treasurer for the Teamsters Local 959, which represents the bus drivers.

Negotiations between the two parties have been ongoing since June, 2025, with Teamsters saying that Durham was often “unprepared” and “unable to start negotiations.” Durham presented a final offer in January, but members felt it did not address their concerns and was rejected. A vote to authorize a strike soon followed. There were no negotiations held during February, as Durham failed to show up.

“Despite our efforts and availability, it’s been almost six weeks since Durham last met with the Union for negotiations. Durham refused to meet this week. The Union will hold next week open in case Durham chooses to take this situation seriously and bargain in good faith.” The Teamsters say they are open to mediation if Durham is interested and arranges for such action.

If there are no further negotiations between now and Monday, this would be the second time the bus drivers will go on strike since Durham was awarded the contract back in May, 2022. The drivers went on strike January, 2023 citing safety concerns at the bus barn and in the buses, as well as stalled contract negotiations, low wages, and a lack of safety meetings. The strike lasted six weeks, affecting thousands of students, before a new contract was ratified in March 2023.

“Durham has been fully aware since February 18, 2026 that a strike could happen on March 2, 2026, and still did nothing to make themselves available for negotiations before that date,” the statement continues, saying that there was no choice but for the bus drivers to exercise their right to strike.

The Teamsters are aware of the inconvenience this will cause families, but believes the students and community deserve better than what is currently being provided.

This is a developing story.