Drivers of shuttle buses of seven major companies within the Silicon Valley, including Apple and Yahoo, have voted unanimously to approve a union proposal for a first contract that will raise their wages and improve benefits, according to a press release issued by Teamster Local 853.
The shuttle bus drivers' union, who is represented by Teamster, voted 75-0 to approve the proposal.
The proposed contract will include an hourly pay raise over the three-year contract, according to the press release.
Rome Aloise, International Vice President and principal officer of Teamsters Local 853, told CNN Money that the pay raise will be from $17 to $21 per hour.
The base rate will start between $25 and $27.50 and it will increase by 75 cents a year for three years, under the proposed contract.
It also includes a shift differential pay and a minimum of six-hour work shift for drivers who don't work split shifts.
The proposed contract will also require employers to make contributions to a defined pension plan, among other gains.
Aloise said in the press release that the changes in the contract are significant.
"The overwhelming vote is an indication of the significance of the changes made by this contract, most of which are going to be life-changing for the people that drive these buses, and for their families," he said.
The vote to approve the contract proposal comes after almost five months of negotiation between Teamster and Compass Transportation, the contractor that employs the shuttle bus drivers, according to the press release.
The press release added that the proposed contract includes the language used and the entire package that Teamster and Facebook agreed upon, through Loop Transportation, for their own bus drivers.
Following the vote, Compass Transportation will review the final contract.
CNN Money added that the contract must be signed off by each of the companies. Once approved, about 160 drivers can expect a pay raise.
The companies involved are Apple, eBay, Yahoo, Zynga, Genentech, Amtrak and Evernote, according to the press release.
In an emailed statement to CNN Money, Genentech said that they support the increase in pay for the bus drivers.
"We support the implementation of the higher wages offered to its employee union effective immediately," they said.
