Seattle Transportation Service Update
Teamsters Local 174 Zum Services Reach Agreement
We are pleased to jointly announce that we have reached an agreement that reflects our shared commitment to Zum’s Teamster Seattle drivers and the students and families of the Seattle School District. The deal covers retirement benefits for the group of 300 workers, who provide 80% of the yellow school bus transportation for children in the Seattle School District. The proposed offer reflects a collaboration between both sides, and a ratification vote is scheduled for October 10.
“Throughout the negotiations, both sides engaged productively and in good faith, strengthening our collaborative relationship,” Zum said. “We are united in our commitment to supporting our incredible drivers and delivering safe, reliable student mobility for Seattle families every school day.”
“This deal represents a victory for both sides,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We are all thrilled that a strike was averted, as we all understand how important school bus service is to families in the Seattle School District. A suspension of school bus service would disproportionately affect working class families who do not have alternative means of transporting their children to school, so both sides worked hard to avoid that outcome and we are thrilled to announce that our efforts have been successful.”
Zum and the Teamsters are excited to continue serving the Seattle community, and look forward to working together on behalf of our drivers, students and families for years to come.
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Monday, September 28, 2026 at 7am PT
Current Status: Full Transportation Service
As of Monday, September 28, Zum student transportation is operating as scheduled, and families should plan for their regular service.
Unless you hear otherwise directly from Zum or the Seattle Public Schools, transportation is operating as scheduled.
Zum continues to negotiate in good faith with Teamsters Local 174 and remains optimistic that we can reach an agreement and avoid any disruption to students and families. We have made significant progress. The remaining issue relates to where retirement contributions are directed, not the amount Zum has agreed to contribute.
We remain in close communication with Local 174 leadership and are focused on resolving this final issue as quickly as possible for our employees.
If there are any changes to transportation service, we will update this page in real time and communicate directly with families through the Zum Parent App and in coordination with Seattle Public Schools.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 12pm PT
Current Status: Full Transportation Service
As of Wednesday, September 23, Zum student transportation is operating as scheduled.
Zum remains committed and optimistic that we can reach an agreement with Teamsters Local 174 and avoid any disruption to service. We know how critical safe, reliable transportation is for students and families and continue to negotiate in good faith.
We are extremely close to an agreement, in the last proposal from the union, Zum and Local 174 had agreement on all economic and non economic terms with only one issue remaining. That one disagreement is not about how much Zum contributes toward drivers’ retirement benefits, as we meet all State requirements, but where those contributions are directed and who controls them. Under Zum’s proposal, contributions go into accounts associated with individual employees, giving drivers greater flexibility, control and choice over their retirement benefits. We are in constant touch with the Local 174 leadership and we remain committed to resolving this final issue as quickly as possible for our employees.
We will update this page in real time if there are any changes to transportation service. Families will also receive updates through the Zum Parent App and directly from Seattle Public Schools.
