Strike looms for GTA school bus drivers

The union representing almost 300 Toronto-area school bus drivers has issued a strike notice to their employer First Student Canada.

Unifor Local 4268 gave notice Friday night of its intention to strike if a deal isn’t reached by 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

If the strike happens, it would affect 10,000 students at 100 schools, including in Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, Scarborough, Uxbridge and Whitby.

Although the union only has to give 72 hours’ notice, it wanted to provide an update for parents before the weekend so there’s enough time to make other arrangements.

The sticking points are wages and unpaid work, which the union says can reduce drivers’ pay below minimum wage.

“Drivers assume responsibility for the safety of children while also navigating school buses through our communities, yet they remain at the bottom of the professional driver pay scale,” said Debbie Montgomery, president of Unifor Local 4268.

“School bus drivers deserve decent wages and working conditions and we’re not willing to settle for less from First Student.”

Drivers are paid $13 or $14 an hour, but the clock only starts after they get to the first pickup location. For example, drivers that serve schools in Scarborough pick up their buses in Ajax and don’t get paid for the travel time.

Also, because drivers’ shifts are split between the beginning and end of the school day, it gives them little time to do anything in between.

Both sides will remain at the bargaining table until Thursday’s strike deadline.

“We hope to reach a fair deal with First Student as we know the service our drivers provide is vital to students and their families,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.

“However, it’s simply unfair to expect school bus drivers to continue to accept subpar wages and do unpaid work.”