Teamsters negotiate deal with Durham to end strike, return to work

With two weeks left in the 2025-2026 school year, Mat-Su school buses are returning to routes after Teamsters Local 959 and Durham School Services (DSS) ratified a new contract. The over eight-week strike, which began March 2, involved roughly 230 staff and impacted 18,000 students. Normal transportation services will resume on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the striking members of Teamsters 959 voted last week to ratify a contract offer negotiated by their bargaining unit and DSS addressing key issues that led to the strike.

Of the many issues that were addressed, increased safety inspection time, ensuring reliable access to necessary equipment, and mandatory training for new hires to ride with veteran drivers before transporting children by themselves, and new mandatory chain-up training for all employees. DSS will also have to conduct check-off rides, aligning the contract language with district and community expectations.

“The company has committed to working collaboratively with the Union to improve and maintain the fleet readiness of available buses. This will help ensure there are enough buses and drivers to fill all routes and operate efficiently when a bus is unexpectedly down.”

The agreement also addresses reimbursements for HireRight, a firm that conducts employment background checks, drug screenings, and compliance services. While Alaska school bus drivers are already deemed safe and legal to operate by holding a DOT Medical Card, Teamsters 959 argued that DSS forced employees to pay out-of-pocket for additional, unnecessary medical screenings, arguing that for drivers earning roughly $30,000 a year, these mandatory costs posed a significant financial burden. While not opposed to extra screening, workers feared these expenses could force experienced drivers to leave, with the union stating, “Competent, qualified school bus drivers should not lose their jobs because they cannot afford to pay for unnecessary company mandates.”

A reimbursement program has been established for employer-required, subjective medical screenings. This addresses the HireRight issue by covering costs for exams that exceed Federal and State DOT standards.

“Teamsters Local 959 would like to thank all those who stood with us through this labor dispute and all families of the Mat-Su School District for your patience in this matter. We look forward to returning to work and providing buses for the final weeks of school. We worked hard to get a deal done and look forward to serving the community for the remainder of this year and beyond.”