Share
February 5, 2019
TORONTO - Campeau Bus Lines’ demand for unpaid work time from school bus drivers and other violations of the Canada Labour Code must be stopped, says Unifor.
“Campeau is getting away with not paying workers, and that’s going to end,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “These bus drivers deserve equal treatment and a fair contract.”
More than 200 members of Unifor Local 4268, have been in bargaining since October 2018 for a first collective agreement seeking better working conditions and compensation for all driving time. Local 4268 members drive for schools in Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa, Clarington, Bowmanville, Peterborough, Orono, Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton and the Kawartha region.
“School buses do not drop out of the sky at the first pick up point or drive autonomously back to the parking location following the last stop,” said Debbie Montgomery, Unifor Local 4268 President. “These unpaid trips add up to many hours per week, especially in winter driving conditions when vehicles must also be cleared of ice and snow.”
For years the school board transportation departments and the bus operators have taken advantage of drivers and this must stop.
“Navigating a commercial vehicle safely while maintaining responsibility for a large group of children is not a ’hobby’—it’s a job,” said Montgomery. “Like all workers, school bus drivers deserve to be paid for their time.”
Unifor says that in the event of job action, the union is committed to giving parents and the public 72 hours’ notice.
For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Hamid Osman at @email or 647-448-2823 (cell).
