More than 100 Seattle school bus drivers are set to lose their jobs this summer, as contractor First Student Inc. prepares to lay off 111 employees in August. The company, which runs many of Seattle Public Schools' yellow-bus routes, plans to scale back work at its Lake City Way facility and move remaining operations to a Fifth Avenue South office. The separations, described as permanent, are scheduled to begin Aug. 17, and the announcement is already stirring worries about fall route coverage and summer-school transportation.
What the WARN filing says
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing with the Washington Employment Security Department, First Student will "permanently discontinue approximately 60% of operations" at its Lake City Way site and consolidate what is left at its Fifth Avenue South location. The filing lists 111 affected employees, including 107 bus drivers and three technicians, and names Aug. 17, 2026 as the separation date. The notice, submitted by area general manager Michael Hamel, states that the layoffs are permanent and that the company does not plan to contract out the work, per documents posted by KOMO.
Why drivers are worried
The timing lands in the middle of already tense negotiations between drivers and the contractor. Seattle Public Schools says it has been in touch with First Student while bargaining continues. The company has previously circulated letters to employees urging them to accept its proposals and highlighting wage and benefit offers in talks with Teamsters Local 174, according to First Student.
What families and the district could face
Seattle Public Schools relies on outside carriers to transport students who need specialized services, so losing this many drivers just weeks before a new school year could make route assignments and staffing significantly more complicated. The layoffs follow a period of difficult contract talks and come more than a year after drivers authorized a strike, according to reporting by KOMO. Workers caught up in mass layoffs are eligible for services and benefits under Washington's WARN process. The Employment Security Department offers rapid-response, retraining, unemployment and job-placement resources for displaced employees.
What to watch next
Next up, watch for how three key players respond: Teamsters Local 174, First Student and Seattle Public Schools. The union is expected to weigh in on the layoffs and the state of contract talks, while families will be looking for a clear staffing and routing plan from both the company and the district for summer programs and the fall semester. The WARN notice includes contact information for First Student's area manager, and affected workers can also reach out to WorkSource and the state's rapid-response team for help navigating the transition. Updates are expected as the district, the company and the union release more details.
