Strike notice served in Bowmanville school bus negotiations

BOWMANVILLE, ON, March 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Unifor Local 4268 representing school bus drivers in Ontario has served First Student Bowmanville with a strike notice effective as of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday March 21 2018.

"Negotiations are continuing with the goal of reaching a fair contract for these school bus drivers. We understand the importance of the service they provide to families in the region," said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. "This decision is not taken lightly but these members recognize that in order to continue to have skilled and reliable drivers now and in the future, low wages and unpaid time must be corrected through a fair contract."

The strike notice affects routes in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. The union is obligated to issue 72-hours strike notice, but to ensure parents and students have as much time as possible to prepare alternate arrangements we have served notice as of Thursday March 15.

"The current conditions for school bus drivers have led to a race to the bottom that must end. They deserve to be paid in accordance with the actual time spent on the job," said Debbie Montgomery, President of Unifor Local 4268. "If First Student wants to reach a fair contract it needs to ensure better working conditions and make these jobs viable."

The drivers have been in a legal strike position since December 10, 2017 and negotiations have been ongoing over the past six months. Community members should visit www.stsco.ca for cancellation notices.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor