Durham School Transportation Workers in Cumberland, RI, Vote Unanimously to Approve New Contract

Congratulations to the hardworking Local 328 members employed at Durham School Services in Cumberland, Rhode Island, on voting unanimously to approve a new three-year agreement!

Over the next three years, starting rates for drivers will increase from $20.75 to $25.00. Drivers will earn wage increases totaling 20% to 25% over the three years, with a top rate reaching $30.00/hr.

In 2021, before Durham workers voted for their first contract, bus monitors earned only the minimum wage of $11.50/hr. The newly approved contract raises wages for monitors from $16.75/hr. to $19.25/hr and raises rates for Aides to $19.75/hr by the end of the agreement.

This agreement is also a victory for the communities these school transportation workers dedicate to serving. Durham School Service employees in Cumberland service Cumberland Public Schools and Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy. The relationships the bus drivers, monitors and aides form with parents and children is incredibly important and investing in these workers and their futures is essential.

Additional benefits under the new agreement include:

– New annual retention bonus

– New monthly attendance bonuses for all employees

– Improved longevity bonus

– Additional paid holiday

We applaud the Local 328 members at Durham on their new agreement and offer our appreciation to the elected worker committee who did a fantastic job representing their coworkers every step of the negotiations!