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TORONTO – Unifor Local 4268 says school bus drivers at First Student Bowmanville have been forced out on strike as of at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday March 21.
"For some time now Unifor has led the discussion regarding the unfair treatment of workers who are tasked with carrying our children to and from school,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “To expect that people should only be paid while children are on board the bus is an absurd structure and we will fight to fix it."
The strike affects routes in the Durham, Durham Catholic, Kawartha Pine Ridge and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Boards. Community members should visit Student Transportation Services for Central Ontario at www.stsco.ca and Durham Student Transportation Services at www.dsts.on.ca for school listings and cancellation notices.
“First Student is still refusing to pay for the total time that is spent driving,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “Our drivers truly appreciate the support that they’ve received from parents and students in their battle against unpaid work.”
The drivers have been working without a contract since August 31, 2017 and have been in a legal strike position since December 10, 2017. Talks between the union and employer broke off shortly before the strike deadline of 12:01 a.m.
For months Unifor has conducted negotiations with First Student with the aim to eliminate the use of unpaid work hours and to improve wages.
“It’s important that our kids get to school safely and that means well trained, responsible drivers,” said Unifor Local 4268 President Debbie Montgomery. “The industry can’t attract and keep quality drivers if they don’t earn a wage that reflects the responsibilities that they have in the performance of their duties.”
For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Kathleen O’Keefe at @email or 416-896-3303 (cell).
