Regular bus service for Princeton City Schools is expected to resume Tuesday, Oct. 20, after union-represented drivers approved a new four-year agreement with First Student, ending a strike that disrupted transportation for thousands of students for nearly two weeks.

The district said it is finalizing operational details and will share updates with families before routes resume. Oct. 20 also marks students’ return from fall break and the start of the second quarter.

The strike lasted two weeks.

The agreement received overwhelming support, according to published reports.

What led to the strike

Drivers walked off the job Oct. 1 after their contract expired Sept. 30. They had been seeking higher pay, medical benefits and guaranteed daily routes.

Union leaders said a major sticking point was the lack of employer-paid health insurance. Lead negotiator Derryl Hall, a staff representative for OAPSE/AFSCME Local 184, said many drivers relied on Medicaid, Medicare or plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act, WCPO reported when the strike began.

During the strike, First Student said its wage proposal exceeded 27% over the four-year contract period, with the top rate reaching approximately $40 per hour, according to WLWT's Oct. 8 coverage. The company also filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the union refused to negotiate during daytime hours and moved backward from prior wage proposals.

Whether the final agreement meets all of the drivers' demands has not been disclosed.

What the district says

Superintendent Mari E. Phillips said in a letter posted to the district website Oct. 14 that she appreciates the efforts that led to the agreement and looks forward to restoring reliable transportation.

Phillips said the district will work with First Student to confirm operational details and communicate additional information to families before service resumes.

The district is not a party to the bargaining between the union and First Student but has been in close communication with the company throughout negotiations, Phillips said in a statement before the strike began.

Two weeks of disruption

The strike forced families across the district to scramble for alternatives. The district was offering Metro passes to interested families with students in grades 7–12.

Jammie Coburn, a bus driver of 30 years, told WCPO on Oct. 9 that the impact reached beyond students. "Our parents are being affected as well because some have to go in late to work and get off early, and now it's messing with their compensation as well," Coburn said.

Families should watch for additional details from the district before Tuesday, Oct. 20.