Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Several Central Illinois school districts – including Springfield District 186 – could be in a jam if the Teamsters Union and First Student Inc. don’t reach an agreement by the end of the month.

Our news partners at WAND-TV report Teamsters union members who drive school buses for First Student Wednesday voted to authorize a strike by an 88 percent margin.

Teamsters officials say the hot-button issues continue to be retirement security, health care, a minimum standard for guaranteed hours, and paid time off.  Bus worker and Teamsters Local 251  member Jean August said, “These are not difficult asks – we are fighting for a contract that provides basic benefits many bus workers across the country have”.

WAND-TV also reports the union has also filed an unfair labor practice charge against First Student, relation to the negotiations, per the union.

First Student has 500 locations in the U.S. and Canada and is the largest private school bus company in the nation. First Student employs 63,000 people. Urbana and Danville also use First Student for their school districts.