Nevada Drivers Win Landmark Contract at Critical Mining Sites

WINNEMUCCA, NV – April 28, 2026 – A group of 114 motorcoach operators responsible for transporting workers to some of the nation’s most strategic mining projects have overwhelmingly ratified their first union contract, securing significant gains in wages and benefits after months of negotiation. The workers, employed by Diversified Transportation, organized with Teamsters Local 533 last November and will now operate under an agreement that establishes a new benchmark for labor standards in Nevada’s booming resource sector.

The operators provide essential daily transit for employees at Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass project—a cornerstone of the U.S. strategy for domestic lithium production—and for Nevada Gold Mines, the largest gold-producing complex in the world. The new three-year agreement guarantees increased wages, a seven-hour workday, sick pay, and comprehensive health care and retirement benefits, addressing key concerns that spurred the initial organizing drive.

A Hard-Fought Victory Sets a New Standard

The successful contract negotiation marks the culmination of a persistent campaign by workers who sought to challenge what the union described as "decades of disinvestment" by their employer. This period had led to unpredictable schedules and concerns over working conditions. The solidarity among the 114 operators was a critical factor in achieving the landmark agreement.

"We knew from Day One that if every member of the unit stood together, we could build an important foundation for many future years of strong contracts," said Leanna Brown, a motorcoach operator and member of Teamsters Local 533. "This contract sets the standard for other workers fighting for strong contracts in the region. When workers win, our families and our local economy win too."

The contract’s provisions, particularly the guaranteed seven-hour workday, bring a new level of stability to a workforce whose consistency is vital to the daily operations of massive industrial projects. The inclusion of sick pay and robust retirement and health plans represents a significant improvement in job quality and long-term security for the drivers and their families in the Winnemucca area.

"This win is important for the workers and the region," stated Gary Watson, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 533. He praised the workers' resolve, noting, "The commitment and work everyone put in during negotiations shows in the strong contract that they won."

A Corporate Backdrop of Expansion and Labor Disputes

Diversified Transportation is a subsidiary of Student Transportation of America (STA), one of the largest student and industrial transportation providers in North America, operating over 22,000 vehicles. STA has recently made a strategic push into "industrial busing solutions," with the Nevada contracts representing a major new vertical for the company in the U.S. market. The company secured the contract to service Thacker Pass in early 2025 and the Nevada Gold Mines contract later that year, with plans to operate over 150 motorcoaches between the two sites by this summer.

However, the parent company's expansion has not been without friction. STA has faced significant labor challenges in other parts of the country. In 2024, the company laid off 225 employees in Jacksonville, Florida, after its contract with the local school district was canceled due to severe service issues, including late buses and unsafe conditions. Further back, in 2016, STA was the target of a class-action lawsuit in Chicago filed by school bus drivers who alleged they were systematically underpaid for hours worked. This history provides a broader context for the organizing drive in Nevada, where workers sought to proactively establish strong protections and fair compensation as the company rapidly expanded its operations in the state.

Labor's Growing Stake in the Critical Mineral Supply Chain

The significance of the new contract extends far beyond the local labor market. The drivers represented by Teamsters Local 533 are a crucial link in the supply chain for materials deemed vital to national security and the green energy transition. The Thacker Pass mine, set to become the largest lithium source in the United States, is central to reducing the nation's reliance on foreign imports for a mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and other advanced technologies.

Reliable transportation for the more than 2,000 workers expected at the site during peak construction is not a luxury but an operational necessity. Any disruption could have cascading effects on project timelines and, by extension, on the domestic critical minerals pipeline. By unionizing and securing a strong contract, these transportation workers have anchored their role in this strategic industry, ensuring that the economic benefits of this national priority project are shared more broadly.

Neither Lithium Americas nor Nevada Gold Mines has commented publicly on the new labor agreement. However, both mining giants previously emphasized the importance of safe and dependable transportation when they awarded the contracts to Diversified Transportation. While improved wages and benefits may translate to higher operational costs for the transportation provider—costs that could potentially be passed on to its clients—the stability provided by a ratified contract and a compensated workforce can mitigate risks of labor disputes and turnover, ensuring the mines' thousands of employees get to and from their jobsites safely and on time.

Ripple Effects Across Nevada's Mining Economy

The agreement is poised to have a significant ripple effect across Northern Nevada, where the economy is heavily dominated by the mining industry and its extensive network of support services. In a region where skilled labor is in high demand, the Teamsters' contract at Diversified Transportation establishes a powerful new precedent. The average annual pay for motorcoach operators in Nevada is already competitive, with Winnemucca being one of the higher-paying localities. This new union standard is likely to pressure other non-union employers in the transportation and logistics sector to improve their own compensation packages to attract and retain qualified drivers.

Teamsters Local 533, which represents around 2,600 workers in various trades across the region, has a history of strategic organizing and tough negotiations. This victory is part of a broader pattern of union activity aimed at securing a foothold in the industries supporting Nevada's resource boom. The union has also recently organized air ambulance crews and has a track record of securing strong contracts for waste management and other transportation workers. This latest success with the Diversified Transportation operators demonstrates a clear strategy to ensure that as billions of dollars are invested into extracting Nevada's mineral wealth, the workers who make those operations possible receive a fair share of the prosperity. The contract not only improves the lives of 114 families but also sends a clear message to other service contractors in the region that worker solidarity is a powerful force for change.