(Allentown, Pa.)— School bus workers who serve the East Penn School District returned to work this morning after approving a five-year contract that includes higher annual wages and additional days off.

East Penn drivers, aides and mechanics represented by Teamsters Local 773 went on strike Wednesday after voting down a contract offer from First Student, Inc., a subsidiary of FirstGroup PLC of Aberdeen, Scotland. 

“It was a tough fight, but in the end we got a fair deal,” said Dennis Hower, business agent and vice president of Local 773. “They’ve only been union members since January, but they stuck together like seasoned Teamsters.

“The members are proud of the work they do for the company and the school district and are thankful for the support they received from the community,” Hower said.

The bus workers voted down two contract offers before last night, when they voted to accept the company’s third offer by a large majority. The East Penn yard was owned by Laidlaw International, Inc., before the company was purchased by First Student in February 2007.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.