Mat-Su School Bus Strike End in Sight

A potential end to the Matsu school bus strike is in sight after Durham School Services and

Teamsters Local 959 struck a tentative deal this week.

The walkout is dragged on for more than eight weeks since workers hit the picket line on

March 2nd.

Union members vote on the contract soon, and if it passes, buses could roll again as early

as Monday or Tuesday, just in time for the school years.

Final stretch.

Negotiations have been rocky, with talks starting after the old contract expired in

early February.

This week's two-day session finally broke the deadlock following weeks of back and forth.

Families in the Matsu Valley have felt the squeeze hard, scrambling for rise while dealing

with the hassle.

The union thanked parents for hanging in there and said the new deal boosts training, safety

protocols, and overall bus culture to keep kids safer on.

The road.

Key sticking points included wages, benefits, extra health screenings drivers had to pay for

out-of-pocket, and other safety measures beyond state.

Rules.

Both sides say they're happy with how wages and insurance shook out in the agreement.

Durham expects their drivers to sign off quick, paving the way for smooth service resumption,

and putting those saved transport bucks toward future.

Needs.

With school winding down, this could get everything back on track without missing more days.

Stay informed with Anchorage News today, AI-powered updates.

I'm Corey with The Story.