School bus drivers employed by First Student Canada in Owen Sound, Kincardine and Georgetown have set a strike deadline of Nov. 10 if contract negotiations fail.
The potential walkout would affect approximately 8,260 students across multiple school boards in southwestern Ontario. Unifor Local 4268 represents 257 drivers and apprentices across the three units.
The union says wages and unpaid work time are the main sticking points in all three bargaining units.
Drivers in Owen Sound voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action on Sept. 24, while Kincardine drivers voted unanimously. Georgetown drivers, who are negotiating their first contract, voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate in June.
“School bus drivers just want respect and fair treatment because their job is to ensure our most precious cargo—our kids—arrive safely to and from school,” said Samia Hashi, Unifor Ontario regional director.
The Georgetown unit serves the Halton Catholic District School Board, Halton District School Board and some routes for Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir and Conseil Scolaire Viamonde. The 110 drivers primarily operate routes in Georgetown, Milton and Acton.
In Kincardine, 42 drivers and two apprentices operate 34 routes for the Bluewater District School Board and Bruce-Grey Catholic School Board. They transport students in Saugeen Shores, Kincardine, Tiverton, Tara and surrounding rural areas.
The Owen Sound unit of 105 drivers operates routes for the Bluewater District School Board.
“Our First Student Bus members are part-timers who are trying to make a living wage,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president.
Unifor represents approximately 2,000 school bus drivers across Canada and 320,000 workers in total across the private sector.
