Students in Northumberland and Clarington who are on bus routes serviced by First Student Bowmanville will have to find another way to get to school
this morning.
Company bus drivers have been forced out on a strike as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday morning, after negotiations between the company and Unifor Local 4268.
As a result, no school bus routes serviced by First Student Bowmanville will run in Northumberland County, or the Municipality of Clarington, effective this morning.
First Student Bowmanville operates approximately 90 bus routes, serving 33 Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB schools, and 10 PVCN Catholic DSB schools.
The company carries about 4,915 students to and from school on a daily basis.
In a statement from the union, Unifor says the company is still refusing to pay for the total time spent driving. The union says it 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,” stated 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.”
UPDATE: Reaction from Unifor, parents and students on the bus strike
A representative from Unifor told CHEX News this is an ongoing industry issue.
She says drivers only get paid when there is a passenger on board, or when they’re doing their mandatory safety check before each route.
Pay varies for each driver. However, the rep says most get paid about $14/hr after the minimum wage hike.
Spokesperson for First Student Bowmanville, Jay Brock, says he finds it unfortunate Unifor has chosen to negotiate at the expense of everyone who relies on the bus services.
“We have really stepped up our offer to a highly competitive compensation package. It includes a 20% increase in the average compensation, a $400 signing bonus, and enhanced medical benefits.”
Brock says if this offer was to be accepted, First Student drivers would become the highest paid operators in the region.
He says he realizes this creates a hardship for everyone who relies on the bus service, and it’s hoping to move forward with talks soon.
At this point, no new talks are scheduled. In a release, STSCO says it’s hopeful talks will resume soon.
Below is a list of schools affected by the strike.
Durham Catholic District School Board
Archbishop Denis O’Connor C.H.S
Father Joseph Venini C.S.
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
Monsignor John Pereyma C.S.S
Monsignor Paul Dwyer C.H.S.
Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic School
Saint Paul Catholic School
Sir Albert Love C.S.
St Christopher C.S.
St Hedwig C.S.
St John Bosco C.S.
St John XXIII C.S.
St Joseph C.S. ‐ OSHAWA
St Kateri Tekakwitha CS
St Thomas Aquinas C.S.
Durham District School Board
Bobby Orr P.S.
College Hill P.S.
Coronation P.S.
Donald A. Wilson S. S
Eagle Ridge P.S.
Eastdale C.V.I.
Forest View PS
G.L. Roberts C.V.I.
Gordon B. Attersley P.S.
Harmony Heights P.S.
Jeanne Sauve P.S.
Kedron P.S.
Maxwell Heights S.S.
O’Neill C.V.I.
Pickering H.S.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau P.S.
Pringle Creek P.S.
R.S. McLaughlin C.V.I.
Roland Michener P.S.
Seneca Trail P.S.
Sherwood P.S.
Stephen G. Saywell P.S.
Sunset Heights P.S.
Woodcrest P.S
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
Baltimore PS
Beatrice Strong PS
Bowmanville HS
C. R. Gummow PS
Central PS – Bowmanville
Charles Bowman PS
CIS – Campus (CIS) Bowmanville
Clarington Central SS
Clarke HS
Cobourg Collegiate Institute
Courtice Intermediate
Courtice North PS
Courtice SS
Dale Road Senior PS
Dr. G.J. MacGillivray
Dr. M.S. Hawkins Senior PS
Dr. Ross Tilley PS
Duke of Cambridge
Enniskillen PS
Grafton PS
Hampton Junior PS
Lydia Trull PS
M.J. Hobbs Senior PS
Newcastle PS
North Hope Central PS
Orono PS
Port Hope HS
Roseneath Centennial PS
S.T. Worden PS
Terry Fox PS
The Pines Senior PS
Vincent Massey PS
-With a file from Global News
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