KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – As school districts around New Hampshire gear up for the start of the school year, some districts could face some issues with student transportation.

Members of the Teamsters Local 633 union, which includes employees of the First Student bus company, are threatening to go on strike after a group vote authorized a walk out. That includes about 800 employees, 700 of which are bus drivers.

“After several months of contract negotiations for the six open agreements, First Student has repeatedly refused to offer Teamsters a contract that includes a pension out of a matter of “principal,” even though Teamsters’ pension proposals would not increase First Student costs nor expose it to additional liability,” Teamsters Local 633 said in a news release.

First Student Spokesman Frank MacMahon says the company’s advocacy for employee participation in the Teamsters’ Savings and Investment Plan 401(k) over the Teamsters’ pension fund is because it offers a more secure and beneficial path forward. He said that the preference for the 401(k) plan is not rooted in cost savings.

Local 633 leadership has received two contract proposals from First Student, one in April and another in June, and MacMahon says they have not responded to either proposal, which both include participation in the fully funded Teamsters’ 401(k), wage increases, and continued health insurance coverage.

“In denying bus workers a contract that includes access to the New England Teamsters Pension Fund, First Student is not only doing their workers a disservice, but New Hampshire communities, students, and school districts,” said Jeff Padellaro, Secretary-Treasurer at Local 633. “With the start of school right around the corner, now is the time for First Student to get serious and offer workers the contract they deserve—or else we will have no other choice but to strike for it.”

Negotiations between the union and First Student are set for September 10th and 11th, although with the authorization it is possible that union members could go on strike before that.

“The company looks forward to working with Local 633 leadership and its employee committee to reach an agreement that truly benefits employees,” MacMahon said in a statement. “First Student wants to avoid the disruptive strike the union is threatening. It will only harm employees and their families, and school districts and students across New Hampshire.”

Locally, schools in Swanzey are among those that would be affected on day one of the strike. SAU 93 Superintendent Jeremy Rathbun says he’s keeping a close eye on the situation.

“We are watching it closely and have been told by First Student that everyone is headed back to the table on September 10th,” Rathbun said in an email Monday afternoon. “We will be sending out communications to our parents later this week after our kids are back in school.”

Other school districts that would be immediately affected include Derry, Nashua, North Hampton, Plaistow, and Rochester.

The strike could spread to additional school districts, and SAU 29 Superintendent Robb Malay says he’s also keeping an eye on it and will communicate with families later this week as well.

“We’re grateful that they have scheduled negotiating sessions and that it is business as usual at this time,” Malay told WKBK in an email Monday afternoon.

“It’s disheartening to see our employer deny us access to the Teamsters Pension Fund, which we know several of our counterparts at other bus yards have access to,” said Kelly Placard, an 18-year veteran bus driver at First Student and Local 633 shop steward.

“First Student Teamsters across New England are gearing up to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in New Hampshire if and when the time comes,” said Tom Mari, Secretary-Treasurer at Teamsters Joint Council 10. “The national master contract includes protection of rights for a reason, and we stand ready to utilize those protections if picket lines are extended. First Student Teamsters deserve better, and we will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that they get just that.”

Both Rathbun and Malay said they’re waiting a few days before sending out any communications to families to prevent any confusion.

Students in both SAU 93 and SAU 29 head back to school on Tuesday.

This post has been updated to include additional information from both First Student and Teamsters Local 633.