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WINDSOR, ONT.—Unifor won’t be intimidated by First Student Canada after the school bus company threatened to lock out its Windsor, Ont. school bus drivers if they refuse to take their offer, which continues to underpay and undermine the members.
“This is bordering on bad faith bargaining,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“When a company threatens to lock out our members because they won’t accept a less-than deal and then tries to spin it as if talks broke down, we will not be intimidated. First Student seems to have no problem putting students, parents and schools at risk of major service disruptions because they won’t negotiate a fair contract.”
First Student Bus – which transports about 7,000 students to school each day – walked away from negotiations last month.
The outstanding issue remains wages.
The union and employer met on Aug. 7 and 8, 2025, and on the last day of bargaining, First Student told the bargaining committee that if it didn’t accept its offer, to go on strike.
The company then informed workers they planned on locking them out on Sept. 15 unless both sides could reach a deal that day.
As a result, Unifor members from Local 195 voted 98% for a strike mandate on Aug. 20. The local represents 140 First Student Bus drivers in Windsor.
“The last thing our members want is a strike or lockout, especially in the stressful first weeks of students returning to school, but we are prepared to do so,”
“We have asked the employer repeatedly to address the underpaying of bus drivers, who are trained and responsible for carrying the most precious cargo, to and from schools, and our members remain dedicated in serving our communities,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi.
“We continue to be open and available to meet and hammer out a deal, but First Student has only resorted to bullying our members – half of them heading towards retirement and others with their own young families – by threatening their livelihoods. Meanwhile, these dedicated drivers are asking for reasonable wage increases to offset cost-of-living.”
The bus drivers in this unit drive for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Greater Essex County District School Board, and Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.
Unifor represents 20,000 members across the road transportation sector, with over 2,000 school bus drivers.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
For media inquiries or to arrange interviews, please contact Unifor Communications Director Kathleen O’Keefe at @email or by cell at (416) 896-3303.
