GTA school bus strike still possible as talks resume between union, company

The union representing First Student Markham school bus drivers is hopeful a deal can be reached before the union is in a legal strike position early Thursday.

“We want to get it done. We want our drivers in their buses doing their jobs, picking up the kids.”

Hours earlier she said talks broke down because the union did hear back from the company on their latest offer.

A spokesman for First Student subsequently told Global News the company is reviewing the offer.

“We received a financial arrangement from (Local) 4268, but that doesn’t mean that we’ve broken off discussions in any way. We are still willing to come to the table – still willing to talk,” Jay Brock said.

“We want to continue those negotiations so we can reach an agreement that’s fair and reasonable for both sides.”

School officials have been advised the union would have to give 72 hours notice before beginning any job action.

A possible strike could affect nearly 2,500 Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and 6,000 Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) students. A York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) spokeswoman said around 3,500 YCDSB students and 6,500 York Region District School Board (YRDSB) students would be affected.

“We had no indication up until a couple weeks ago that there would be a strike,” TCDSB spokesperson John Yan said. “Negotiations are a marathon and they’ve been going on since June and we’re still holding out optimistically that a settlement will be reached.”

If job action is taken, the school boards said the Markham division will not service routes in the Greater Toronto Area nor will drivers be replaced.

READ MORE: Thousands of students could be left stranded if GTA bus drivers go on strike

Schools will also not be able to contract out another bus company to service the routes.

“Generally the affected schools are in the Scarborough northeast section and that seems to be localized. We’re not anticpating any impact on the other areas of the city,” Yan said.

The following schools would be affected if a strike occurred:

Toronto Catholic District School Board

• Annunciation Catholic School
• St. Bonaventure Catholic School
• St. Kevin Catholic School
• Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati
• St. Boniface Catholic School
• St. Lawrence Catholic School
• Canadian Martyrs
• St. Brendan Catholic School
• St. Malachy Catholic School
• Cardinal Leger Catholic School
• St. Brigid Catholic School
• St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School
• Holy Cross Catholic School
• St. Denis Catholic School
• St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
• Holy Name Catholic School
• St. Dominic Savio Catholic School
• St. Martin De Porres Catholic School
• Holy Spirit Catholic School
• St. Dunstan Catholic School
• St. Nicholas Catholic School
• Immaculate Heart Of Mary Catholic School
• St. Edmund Campion Catholic School
• St. Richard Catholic School
• Our Lady Of Fatima
• St. Florence Catholic School
• St. Rose Of Lima Catholic School
• Our Lady Of Grace Catholic School
• St. Gerald Catholic School
• St. Sylvester Catholic School
• Precious Blood Catholic School
• St. Henry Catholic School
• St. Theresa Shrine Catholic School
• St. Agatha Catholic School
• St. Ignatius Of Loyola Catholic School
• St. Thomas More Catholic School
• St. Aidan Catholic School
• St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School
• St. Timothy Catholic School
• St. Albert Catholic School
• St. Joachim Catholic School
• St. Victor Catholic School
• St. Anselm Catholic School
• St. John Catholic School

Toronto District School Board

• Adam Beck Jr PS
• Bendale Jr PS
• Bennington Heights ES
• Beverly Glen Jr PS
• Blake Street Jr PS
• Blythwood Jr PS
• Brimwood Boulevard Jr PS
• Broadlands PS
• Brookside PS
• Cedarbrook Jr PS
• Charlottetown Jr PS
• Chief Dan George PS
• Cliffside PS
• Cornell Jr PS
• Corvette Jr PS
• Denlow PS
• Duke Of Connaught Jr & Sr PS
• Dundas Jr PS
• Dunlace PS
• Earl Beatty Jr & Sr PS
• Elkhorn PS
• General Brock PS
• General Crerar PS
• George B Little Jr PS
• George Webster ES
• George Webster ES South
• Gledhill Jr PS
• Iroquois Jr PS
• John A Leslie PS
• North Agincourt Jr PS
• Northlea E & Ms (Rumsey & Divadale)
• Owen PS
• R H Mcgregor ES
• Ranchdale PS
• Rene Gordon ES
• Rippleton PS
• Thomas Wells PS
• Three Valleys PS
• Tredway-woodsworth PS
• West Hill CI
• Wilkinson Jr PS
• William G Miller Jr PS

York Catholic District School Board

• All Saints CES
• Blessed Scalabrini CES
• Christ The King CES
• Father Michael Mcgivney CHS
• San Lorenzo Ruiz CES
• Sir R W Scott CES
• St. Anthony CES
• St. Augustine CHS
• St. Benedict CES
• St. Brendan CES
• St. Brother Andre CHS
• St. Edward CES
• St. Francis Xavier CES
• St. John Xx111 CES
• St. Joseph CES – Markham
• St. Julia Billiart CES
• St. Justin Martyr CES
• St. Kateri Tekakwitha CES
• St. Matthew CES
• St. Michael CES
• St. Monica CES
• St. Mother Teresa CES
• St. Patrick CES – Markham
• St. Rene Goupil – St. Luke
• St. Robert CHS
• St. Theresa Of Lisieux CHS
• St. Vincent De Paul CES

York Region District School Board

• Aldergrove PS
• Ashton Meadows PS
• Baythorn PS
• Bayview Glen PS
• Boxwood PS
• Brownridge PS
• Buttonville PS
• Castlemore PS
• Central Park PS
• Coledale PS
• Coppard Glen PS
• Cornell Village PS
• Crosby Heights PS
• David Suzuki PS
• Donald Cousens PS
• E J Sand PS
• Edward T Crowle PS
• Franklin St PS
• Fred Varley PS
• German Mills PS
• Greensborough PS
• Harry Bowes PS
• Henderson Avenue PS
• Highgate PS
• James Robinson PS
• Johnsview Village PS
• Legacy PS
• Lincoln Alexander PS
• Little Rouge PS
• Louis-honore Frechette PS
• Markville SS
• Milliken Mills PS
• Parkland PS
• Parkview PS
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS
• Randall PS
• Reesor Park PS
• Richmond Green SS
• Roy H Crosby PS
• Sam Chapman PS
• Sir John A Macdonald PS
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier PS
• Stonebridge PS
• Thornhill PS
• Unionville PS
• Ventura Park PS
• William Armstrong PS
• William Berczy PS
• Willowbrook PS
• Woodland PS
• Yorkhill PS

Mark Carcasole and Cindy Pom contributed to this report