School bus drivers serving elementary and high schools in Whitby and Ajax could go on strike as early as May 16 after voting unanimously in favor of job action.
The 185 members of Unifor Local 4268 employed by First Student are demanding better wages and improved work-life balance ahead of a scheduled May 15 negotiation session with the company.
“We stand with our members as they ask the company to show them respect, recognize the responsibilities of the job and eliminate the wage gap between school districts,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
If an agreement isn’t reached during next week’s talks, drivers would be in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. on May 16, potentially affecting thousands of students in Durham Region.
According to the union, school bus drivers typically work split shifts totaling a minimum of four hours daily at an average wage of approximately $20 per hour.
“This job requires carrying the most precious cargo – our kids,” said Local 4268 President Debbie Montgomery. “We will continue to fight for our members so they can make a living wage during these uncertain times.”
The drivers unanimously supported strike action in a vote held in March, giving their bargaining committee a strong mandate heading into negotiations.
Unifor represents approximately 2,000 school bus drivers across Canada, part of its 20,000 members in the road transportation sector. The union has promised to keep the public informed about any potential service disruptions.
“Strike action is not something we take lightly, but a fair contract is the only way to end this,” said Payne.
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union with 320,000 members across major economic sectors.
