Over 17,000 Teamsters Avert Nationwide Strike at First Student, Reach Tentative Agreement
The Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC) has reached a strong tentative agreement with First Student, averting a nationwide strike that could have included thousands of school bus workers across 96 locals. The deal comes after members voted by an 88 percent margin to authorize a strike, sending a clear message to the company that they were prepared to take action to win a fair contract.
“First Student Teamsters were unified and prepared to take on this company nationwide. Our solidarity forced real movement at the bargaining table, and we delivered a contract in the 11th hour that honors the critical work our members do every day,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Teamsters set the standard for the entire school bus industry, and this agreement raises the bar for school bus transportation workers everywhere.”
The new agreement establishes a national foundation for economics that will be applied across all local agreements, including stronger retirement benefits, improved access to health care benefits, and robust contractual protections for all members. These improved national minimum standards only serve to boost bargaining on important issues at the local level. Teamsters at First Student will have the opportunity to vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.
“This tentative agreement is the direct result of members standing shoulder to shoulder and refusing to settle for less,” said Matt Taibi, Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. “Workers showed the company they were prepared to strike if necessary, and that solidarity made the difference at the bargaining table. This agreement reflects the strength and determination of Teamsters who keep students safe and communities running.”
The National First Student Master Agreement protects more than 17,000 bus workers across the country and was set to expire March 31.
DHL Teamsters Reach Tentative Agreement on Strong New Contract
2026.03.29
DHL Teamsters Reach TA
Agreement Delivers Higher Wages, Stronger Job Protections, Averts Nationwide Strike
Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org
(WASHINGTON) – After weeks of negotiations backed by a looming nationwide strike threat, the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee has reached a strong tentative agreement with DHL. The deal averts a national strike that would have involved thousands of workers across 26 locals across the country.
“Our members at DHL held management’s feet to the fire and demanded a contract that recognizes the hard work they perform every day,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “This agreement sets a new benchmark at the company and proves once again that no one fights harder for workers in the delivery and logistics industry than the Teamsters Union. With our members ready to take action, we secure real gains and force corporations to respect the people who make their profits possible.”
The new four-year agreement includes a 20 percent wage increase, higher health and welfare contributions, and critical job protections. It also establishes robust safeguards against AI-driven routing systems that undermine seniority and explicitly prohibits the use of autonomous vehicles that threaten Teamsters jobs.
“I’ve worked at DHL for 26 years, and this is by far the best contract we’ve ever negotiated,” said Eric Camarena, a DHL dockworker and Teamsters Local 986 shop steward. “I’m proud to have been part of this negotiating committee and of what we achieved together. We stood united and demanded what we’re worth.”
The DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement protects thousands of workers nationwide and was set to expire on March 31. Teamsters at DHL had voted by a 96 percent margin to authorize a strike, demonstrating their readiness to take action to secure a fair agreement.
“This contract is the result of rank-and-file power and a clear reminder to DHL that we are always ready to strike, if necessary,” said Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division. “Our members were united and forced DHL to deliver real gains. The agreement protects jobs, raises standards, and puts DHL Teamsters in a stronger position for the future.”
DHL Teamsters will have the opportunity to vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.
Teamsters Local 317 joined multiple Teamster Locals from around the state, as well as our General President, Sean O'Brien, in Albany in a show of force of dedication for getting New York State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli reelected in 2026. Today, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien joined Teamsters Local 294 President Thomas Quackenbush to honor New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli at Local 294’s union hall in Albany, NY. Speaking to a group of union leaders and rank-and-file members, O’Brien recognized Comptroller DiNapoli’s decades-long commitment to the Teamsters and highlighted their shared mission of protecting workers’ retirement security, holding corporations accountable, and safeguarding the financial well-being of Teamsters across New York State.
“Throughout his tenure, Comptroller DiNapoli has been a tireless advocate for working New Yorkers,” O'Brien said. “As trustee of one of the largest public pension funds in the country, he has used his authority to defend workers and hold corporations accountable. During our contract campaign with UPS, he brought workers’ concerns straight to UPS CEO Carol Tomé, insisting the company bargain fairly and respect the Teamsters who power its success. We need more leaders from both parties who are willing to stand up and fight for working people, and Tom DiNapoli is one of them.”
Under his leadership, Comptroller DiNapoli has protected the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of union members and retirees while maintaining one of the strongest and best-managed pension funds in the country. He has shown a steadfast commitment to transparency and the long-term economic security of working families. The Teamsters are proud to support leaders who stand up for workers and protect their futures.
From John A. Murphy, National Freight Division Director. UPDATE ON OVETIME TAX DEDUCTION
We’ve received several questions from members about the “No Tax on Overtime” provision included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was passed last year, why most Freight Division members are not covered, and what the Teamsters are doing in response.
As you may know, the bill created a tax deduction allowing workers to deduct $12,500 (single) or $25,000 (married) of qualified overtime pay from their taxes. However, when Congress drafted the provision, it based the deduction off the only definition of overtime which exists, in federal law – which is the definition under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which guarantees time and a half for most hourly workers.
However, many employees, particularly in the transportation industry, are exempt from FLSA overtime. For example, all rail and aviation employees are exempted, and will not receive the deduction. This is also true for the Freight Division – Section 13(b)(1) of the FLSA, also known as the Motor Carrier Exemption, exempts the following employees from FLSA overtime –
• Employees of the motor carrier who are drivers, driver’s helpers, loaders, or mechanics whose duties affect the safety of operation of motor vehicles in transportation on public highways in interstate or foreign commerce
It should also be noted that the Division is aware of a persistent rumor that members are not covered because they have a collective bargaining agreement. This is not the case – the exemption comes solely from the FLSA issue.
The IBT and other unions were aware of the exclusion of drivers and others during the negotiations for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and attempted to resolve this issue at the time. Efforts were made on a bipartisan basis to correct this language and ensure coverage but unfortunately were not included.
The Teamsters are continuing to push for legislation that would extend the overtime tax deduction to all workers whose overtime is not governed by the FLSA – including Freight Division members. Specifically, we are fighting to get Congress to pass H.R.5475, the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act. We are continuing to work with lawmakers from both parties to correct this exclusion and ensure that all hourly workers receive the tax relief they deserve.
You deserve the same recognition and tax relief as any other worker. We will continue fighting to make that happen.
On January 23rd Business Agent and Organizer Sean Miller joined President Tom Quackenbush, Tony Sidoti, Pete Sweeney and Patrick Wilson from Teamsters Local 294 as invited guests by High School Guidance Counselor Carolyn Saugh of Herkimer High School to speak with over 350 students in 9th through 12th grade on the importance of Unions and what Unions are, as well as career paths that we represent!
The Teamster Horsemen Motorcycle Association Inc. is a non-profit organization Incorporated in the State of Illinois, with the principal offices located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
The National organization shall also be the Main Association for all Affiliates, and shall have jurisdiction over all Chapters affiliated therewith and over matters pertaining to the membership of such Chapters.
The Teamsters are America’s largest, most diverse union. The Teamsters are known as the champion of freight drivers and warehouse workers, but have organized workers in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, private sector and public sector.There are nearly 1,900 Teamster affiliates throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Teamsters stand ready to organize workers who want to bargain collectively. Once a contract is negotiated and signed, the Union works to enforce it—holding management’s feet to the fire and invoking contract grievance procedures if management chooses not to. Wages and benefits under Teamster contracts are markedly better than those of non-union employees in similar jobs. Teamster contracts are the guarantors of decent wages, fair promotion, health coverage, job security, paid time-off and retirement income.
The Teamsters Union also performs vital tasks in such areas as pension management, safety & health, community outreach, governmental affairs and communications. For more than a century, the Teamsters have been a public voice for the rights and aspirations of working men and women and a key player in securing them
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency created in 1935 and vested with the power to safeguard employees’ rights to organize, engage with one another to seek better working conditions, choose whether or not to have a collective bargaining representative negotiate on their behalf with their employer, or refrain from doing so. The NLRB also acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions, as well as conducts secret-ballot elections regarding union representation. The NLRB is a bifurcated agency governed on one side by a five-person Board and on the other side by a General Counsel. Board Members and the General Counsel are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. The responsibilities and functions of the Agency under the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, as amended, are carried out by the National Labor Relations Board and its General Counsel, who, in addition to independent authority under the statute, exercises other authority by delegation from the Board.
The Department of Labor administers federal labor laws to guarantee workers' rights to fair, safe, and healthy working conditions, including minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, protection against employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance.
Know Your Rights Toolkit
The toolkit has information on workers’ organizing rights and protections against retaliation, which help support the Department of Labor’s mission to protect workers.
For 95 years, Ullico has been a champion for the American worker and as the only labor-owned insurance and investment company, Ullico has gained the trust of union members and employees to protect their families, employees, businesses and investments.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered.
The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.
Over the past decade, many states have made tremendous strides on moving away from arcane, draconian drug criminalization policies towards legalization for commercial and recreational cannabis. As this shift in policy has come, business empires around cannabis have grown exponentially, reaping billions of dollars in revenue in just a few short years. The Teamsters Union is building a grassroots movement of workers committed to ensuring that the people who make these companies succeed aren’t left out of the prosperity associated with this budding industry.
If you are in the process of obtaining your License and are looking for a Union to sign your required Labor Peace Agreement, or you are a Cannabis Employee and are currently not in a Union- Call Teamsters Local 317 today!
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