Strike deadline approaches for group of Toronto school bus drivers

Toronto: Thousands of Toronto students may need to find a new way to get to class on Thursday as a strike deadline looms for a group of school bus drivers in the city.
If a tentative deal cannot be reached by 12:01 a.m. Thursday, drivers employed at First Student Markham would be in a legal strike position.
If drivers walk off the job, the impact would impact would be felt by both Toronto’s public and Catholic boards.

Debbie Montgomery, president of Unifor Local 4268, which represents drivers at First Student, said about 8,500 students would be affected.
She told CP24 Wednesday morning that many issues are outstanding and drivers are prepared to strike if they don’t get a reasonable contract by midnight.
“In a year when both boards were hit with driver shortages, it is more important than ever that we reach a deal that will help to both recruit and retain drivers in this city,” Montgomery said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“Drivers want to be behind the wheel, helping children get their school day started, and home at the end of the day.”
She said drivers are looking for “recognition of the important work” they do ” day in and day out.”
“We cannot continue to have hours a week go unpaid and unrecognized. All hours worked need to be compensated, with these hours EI eligible,” she added.
The potential job action comes after a school bus driver shortage that disrupted transportation services at schools across Ontario earlier this year.
“It broke my heart to see all those children stranded,” Montgomery said. “The best way to make sure that doesn’t happen again is to ensure that drivers can afford to keep the job.”
The Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board have sent out letters to parents warning them of the potential strike. sent out to students at both boards last month warned parents to prepare for a possible strike.
“What we are asking parents to do is make alternate plans just in case. We don’t know. We are hopeful that an agreement will be reached. I think all sides, bus drivers included, are very hopeful that an agreement can be reached but we have to plan for the worst,” TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird told CP24 Wednesday.
“Just given the volume of bus drivers that would be off the job in the event of a strike, we can’t replace all of those bus drivers and buses especially given the fact that there is a current bus driver shortage… Unfortunately, if there is a strike, there will be no buses for those specific students service by First Student Markham division.”